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Against the Death Penalty
ˇ The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading
punishment and violates the right to life.
ˇ Execution is irrevocable and can be inflicted on the innocent.
ˇ The death penalty has never been shown to deter crime more
effectively than other punishments.
ˇ Execution is an act of violence and violence tends to provoke
violence. The imposition and infliction of the death penalty is
brutalizing to all who are involved in the process.
ˇ The death penalty is frequently used as an instrument of repression
against opposition, racial, ethnic, religious and underprivileged
groups.
During 1996 at least 4,272 prisoners are known to have been executed in 39 countries and
7,107 people were sentenced to death in 76 countries. These figures include only cases
kown to Amnesty International (AI);; the true figures are certainly higher.
As in previous years, a small number of countries accounted for the vast majority of
executions recorded. AI received reports of 3,500 executions in China, 167 executions in
Ukraine, 140 executions in the Russian Federation and 110 executions in Iran. These four
countries alone accounted for 92 per cent of all executions recorded by AI worldwide in
1996.
Over 25 countries and territories have abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes or
for all crimes since 1989. They include Andorra, Angola, Belgium, Cambodia, Croatia,
Czech Republic, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Mauritius,
Moldova, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Paraguay, Romania, Sao Tomé,
South Africa, Spain, Switzerland.
The number of countries joining international treaties against the death penalty continues
to grow.
ˇ The Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty has been ratified by 29 states. Four
other states have signed the protocol, indicating their intention to become parties to it at a
later date.
ˇ Protocol No. 6 to the European Convention for the Protection of Human
Rights and Fundamental Freedoms concerning the abolition of the death
penalty has been ratified by 24 states and signed by six others.
ˇ The Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights to Abolish the
Death Penalty has been ratified by four states and signed by three others.
Use of the Death Penalty Against
Juveniles
ˇ International human rights treaties prohibit anyone under 18 years old at the time of the
crime being sentenced to death. Nevertheless. five countries since 1990 are known to
have executed prisoners who were under 18 years old at the time of the crime: Iran,
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, USA and Yemen. The majority of known executions of juvenile
offenders has been in the USA (six since 1990).
The Death Penalty in the USA (see the country report on USA: Developments on the
Death Penalty in 1996)
ˇ 45 prisoners were executed in the USA in 1996 bringing to 358 the total number
executed since the use of the death penalty was resumed in 1977.
ˇ More than 3,000 prisoners were under sentence of death at the end of 1996.
ˇ 38 of the 50 US states provide for the death penalty in law; it is also provided
under US federal military and civilian law.
ˇ Methods of execution in the USA are: lethal injection, electric chair, hanging,
firing squad, gas chamber.
Word Count: 550
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