Abolition of capital punishment in some countries has been offset by extended use of capital punishment in others. More than two thirds of the UN's member States retain the death penalty and use it to a greater or lesser degree. The abolitionist States are mostly Western and Latin American nations, including the Nordic States. Sweden has been particularly active in advocating the abolition of capital punishment before the UN. Consequently, a number of resolutions on capital punishment were adopted by the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council in the 1960's. However, the trend toward abolition of the death penalty in the West has been superseded by a worldwide movement toward increased use of the death penalty, particularly in Islamic countries and other Asian and African States. Thus, attempts of the 1980 UN Congress to restrict capital punishment will be difficult. Even the attempts in 1973 to abolish the death penalty in all member States of the Council of Europe were defeated by member States retaining the penalty. However, sentiment for abolition of the death penalty in all European States is gradually gaining in strength. No references are given.