the qualified personnel needed or whose language was not one of the official languages of the United Nations. The suggestions made by the chairmen to provide advisory services and technical assistance to States and improve general publicity for the activities of the various organs deserved careful consideration. Japan I ... A/C.3/39/SR.49 English Page 3 (Mr. Yamazaki, Japan) hoped that, in accordance with Economic and Social Council resolution 1984/9, the United Nations press service would issue press releases on the proceedings of the Sessional Working Group of Governmental Experts, beginning with the following session. Her country also endorsed the suggestion that the competent specialized agencies should be given a more substantial role in the operation of the reporting procedures and favoured the other suggestions made by the chairmen in paragraphs 28 to 31 of their report. Her delegation believed that the meeting of chairmen had been valuable indeed and that such meetings should be held on a biennial basis. 3. Concerning the question of capital punishment, her delegation hoped that the discussions on the limitation and abolition of the death penalty would serve to prevent its excessive application and, particularly, to prevent mass executions, which should be condemned as violations of human rights. Nevertheless, Japan believed that the retention or abolition of the death penalty should be decided at the national level, thereb¥ ensuring that the views, customs and legal systems of each country would be taken fully into consideration. In Japan, the majority of the people supported retention of the death penalty, not only as a punishment for especially grave crimes, but also as a deterrent. Her Government therefore considered that it was not desirable to abolish the death penalty for the time being and .that, before a second optional protocol was drafted, there should be 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be a statement made by Japan in a United Nations session, discussing the country's stance on the limitation and abolition of the death penalty, as well as its suggestions for improving the reporting procedures of the Sessional Working Group of Governmental Experts. The language used is formal and diplomatic, indicating that it is a official statement made in a formal setting.

**Category**
Humanitarian aid and relief, International relations