The Council considers that limitation of the offences for which the death penalty is provided and ultimate abolition is possible only when the basic standards in the criminal justice system already referred to have been achieved. (ii) whether the resumption of executions by governments after long periods during which death sentences have been commuted or not carried out for other reasons is consistent with international human rights law The Council considers that the resumption of executions in such circumstances is not consistent with the spirit and intent of international human rights law. Resumption of executions is also contrary to trends in international law and practice. The Council considers that in a world of freedom, justice and peace, the reintroduction of the death penalty is indefensible. However, where there is de facto abolition the Council acknowledges the reintroduction of the death penalty in exceptional circumstances that threaten the peace and security of a nation or nations may occur. The Council urges those States that are de facto abolitionist to maintain this position at the very least and wherever possible, move towards the de jure abolition of the death penalty. (iii) whether the enactment of laws that introduce or reintroduce the death penalty or that apply the death penalty to additional offences is consistent with international human rights law The Council considers that the introduction or reintroduction of the death penalty and the expansion of the number of offences subject to the death penalty is contrary to the spirit of the ICCPR. The Council considers that in those States that have abolished the death penalty, its introduction or reintroduction is proscribed by the terms of Article 1 of the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR2. 1 2 Article 6, 7, 14 and 15 of the ICCPR can be found at Annexure 1. See Annexure 2. 6