Four countries completely abolished the death penalty in 2015 fiji, madagascar, republic of congo and suriname. China executed more than all other countries in the world put together, while the usa reached a historic low in its use of the death penalty in 2016. Amnesty international recently released a public statement raising the worsening human rights situation in crimea marking three years under russian rule since the peninsulas unlawful annexation in march 2014 despite amnestys call for human rights in last years briefing crimea in the dark. The death penalty paperback june 1, 1987 by amnesty international author see all 2 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. This years congress was held in oslo, norway in late june, and i was lucky enough to represent amnesty international australia. The federal death penalty can be enacted in any state or territory of the united states, even in states that do not have the death penalty.
We know that, together, we can end the death penalty everywhere. This is the lowest number of executions that amnesty international has recorded in at least a decade. Death sentences and executions in 2016 amnesty international. In 2009 the overwhelming majority of all known executions took place in five countries china, iran, saudi arabia, iraq and the usa. Apr 10, 20 china, the united states and three middle eastern nations carried out the most executions in 2012, rights group amnesty international said wednesday.
Amnesty, the londonbased group that has made abolition of the death penalty one of its signature causes, also says the number of executions in iraq. Amnesty, pardon or commutation of the sentence of death may be. Act 5023052015 2 amnesty international august 2015 protocol to the american convention on human rights the protocol to the american convention on human rights to abolish the death penalty, adopted by the general assembly of the organization of american states in 1990, provides for the total abolition of the death penalty but. Title amnesty international annual report 2011 jordan publisher amnesty international.
Film letters to death row 5 minutes introduce the film letters to death row, explaining that it was made with support from amnesty international and shows cases or stories of three people from around the world, whose lives have been dramatically affected by being imprisoned unfairly, or being placed on death row. It does not attempt to answer the complex question of precisely which defendants should be exempt from the death penalty on the grounds of mental illness at the time of the crime. Death sentences and executions 2017 amnesty international. You are more likely to be sentenced to death if state authorities see you as a threat. Amnesty international 2009 report on the death penalty tcadp. Amnesty international opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception regardless of the nature of the crime, the characteristics of the offender, or the method used by the state to kill the prisoner. These range from bringing torturers to justice and changing oppressive laws to freeing people jailed just for voicing their opinion. Death penalty 2018 report amnesty international usa. Map of death penalties and execution around the world. Death penalty facts updated july 2011 the death penalty and international human rights standards.
In 1948, the united nations unanimously adopted the universal declaration of human rights, which proclaims every individuals right to life. However, 2,832 people are still on death row in the usa. Amnesty international opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception regardless of the nature or circumstances of the crime. Amnesty international reports on death penalty trends the. Amnesty international is a global movement of more. Amnesty international recorded 3,117 death sentences in 55 countries in 2016, a significant increase on the total for 2015 1,998 sentences in 61 countries.
Currently, there are 60 people on federal death row. Section 209 of the tca 1997 applies to an organisation which is a body for the promotion of the observance of the universal declaration of the human rights or the implementation of the european convention. The top 10 facts you need to know from our new death penalty. Here we give a snapshot of the death penalty around the world today. Abolishing the death penalty is one of its top objectives.
In 2000, 88 per cent of all known executions took place in china, iran, saudi arabia and the usa. In saudi arabia, 123 executions were reported, but the total may have been much higher. Today, amnesty international released its annual report on the use of the death penalty worldwide. Amnesty opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception regardless of who is accused, the nature or circumstances of the crime, guilt or innocence or method of execution. A matter of life and death amnesty international ireland. No funds are sought or accepted from governments for investigating and campaigning against human rights abuses. Overall, for the first time ever, a majority of the worlds countries 102 have now fully abolished the death penalty.
Amnesty international is independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion. The death penalty resource guide amnesty international usa. Lets see the facts and misbeliefs about death penalty. We believe the death penalty is the ultimate denial of human rights because noone including any government has the right to take away someones life. Of further significance is the fact that, unlike in previous years. The death penalty is a human rights violation center for. Global death penalty figures amnesty international recorded 657 executions in 20 countries in 2019, a decrease of 5% compared to 2018 at least 690. Although 20 saw more executions than in previous years and several countries resuming executions, there was also progress towards abolition in all regions of the world. In the death penalty quiz, we have assembled facts about capital punishments role in our society. Amnesty international ireland is an approved body that works as an eligible charity under section 209 of the taxes consolidation act 1997. For these reasons, amnesty international supports alternatives to the death penalty. Amnesty campaigned for troy since issuing a report on his case in 2007. At amnesty international, we firmly believe that no one including any government has the right to take away someone elses life. The death penalty in the usa, april 28, 2014 rate this article.
Amnesty international recorded at least 2,591 death sentences in 53 countries in 2017, a significant decrease from the recordhigh of 3,117 recorded in 2016. Amnesty international opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception. Furthermore, the astronomical costs associated with putting a. In addition, political turmoil in belize, eritrea, libya, malaysia, north korea and suriname meant that we had little or no access to information on executions. Amnesty international death penalty report business insider. Nearly one million people worldwide signed a petition against his execution. First published in 2020 by amnesty international ltd. Amnesty internationals latest annual report has found that fewer executions were carried out around the world in 2017 than the year prior. No matter what the crime, who the alleged criminal is, or the method proposed to execute them. Amendments to the penal code reduced the number of. As wikipedia is unbiased, and the death penalty is an ongoing moral debate, shouldnt all the countries with the death penalty be in tan or something. But dont take the word of an unseen and on the internetinnominate author.
Most executions took place in china, iran, iraq, saudi arabia, usa and somalia in that order. Apr 10, 2015 an alarming number of countries resorted to the death penalty in a flawed attempt to stop crime and terrorism in 2014. Apr 01, 2015 amnesty internationals new report death sentences and executions 2014 reveals that an alarming number of countries used the death penalty to tackle real or perceived threats to state security linked to terrorism, crime or internal instability last year. Amnesty international help fight abuses of human rights worldwide. In china, the limited and incomplete records available to amnesty international at the end of the year indicated that at least 1,000 people were executed, but the true figure was believed to be much higher. The use of the death penalty for drug offences is a violation of international law. The number of death sentences 32 was the lowest since 1973, a clear sign that judges, prosecutors and juries are turning their back on the death penalty as a means of administering justice. Amnesty international recorded at least 993 executions in 23 countries in 2017, down by 4% from 2016 1,032 executions and 39% from 2015 when the organization reported 1,634 executions, the highest number since 1989 most executions took place in china, iran, saudi arabia, iraq and pakistan in that order china remained the worlds top executioner but the true. The number of people sentenced to death also went down. Oct 20, 2016 amnesty international help fight abuses of human rights worldwide. The death penalty kills innocents and is a violation of fundamental human rights.
The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. At least 21,919 people were known to be on death row at the end of 2017. Death penalty nine people were sentenced to death in 2010, according to amnesty internationals sources. Below, see the top 10 things you need to know from our newest report. This figure represents the lowest number of executions that amnesty international has recorded in the past decade. Florida has the second largest death row in the usa, and is ranked fourth. It tends to be applied in a discriminatory way on grounds of race and class. View report in english download pdf topics united states of america americas justice systems death penalty. In the usa, new hampshire became the 21st state to abolish the death penalty. The following methods of execution were used across the world in 2017. In 2012, amnesty international reported at least 682 executions in 21 countries worldwide. Sep 21, 2016 every three years, the global movement for the death penaltys abolition comes together at the world congress against the death penalty.
Every three years, the global movement for the death penaltys abolition comes together at the world congress against the death penalty. Amnesty international is the worlds largest human rights organization, and our model of grassroots campaigning achieves remarkable results on issues from womens human rights to the death penalty. Oct, 2016 world day against the death penalty 10 october is world day against the death penalty, which gave us a great opportunity to make our voice heard in canberra. World day against the death penalty amnesty international. An alarming number of countries resorted to the death penalty in a flawed attempt to stop crime and terrorism in 2014. Use of the death penalty in the usa is at its lowest since the early 1990s. All arkansas executions temporarily put on hold after. At least 778 people were executed in 22 countries in 20. No matter what the crime, who the alleged criminal is, or the method proposed to execute them we will always stand against it. Death penalty pennsylvania ave washingtoni dc f 2025467142 rnnastyusaorgabolish 0 2025440200 amnesty international murder rates in states with and without the death penalty o murder rete n death n nonbeeth pentv states murc. Most executions took place in china, iran, saudi arabia, iraq and egypt in that order.
Amnesty internationals new report death sentences and executions 2014 reveals that an alarming number of countries used the death penalty to tackle real or perceived threats to state security linked to terrorism, crime or internal instability last year here we give a snapshot of the death penalty around the world today. The top 10 facts you need to know from our new death. The current state of the death penalty around the world. World day against the death penalty 10 october is world day against the death penalty, which gave us a great opportunity to make our voice heard in canberra. Mar 26, 2014 today, amnesty international released its annual report on the use of the death penalty worldwide. Apr 10, 20 amnesty, the londonbased group that has made abolition of the death penalty one of its signature causes, also says the number of executions in iraq nearly doubled in 2012 compared with a year. At least 18,848 people were on death row at the end of 2016. Wonky were asked to produce a set of explanatory videos to give an overview of some of the human rights that amnesty international research and. China, the united states and three middle eastern nations carried out the most executions in 2012, rights group amnesty international said wednesday. The us supreme court heard oral arguments on vernon madisons case in. China executed more than all other countries in the world put together, while the usa reached a historic low. Most executions took place in china, iran, iraq, saudi arabia, usa and somalia in that order china executed more people than the rest of the world put together but the true extent of the use of the death penalty in china.
We oppose the use of the death penalty in every single case. Amnesty international reports on death penalty trends. The death penalty is a denial of the most basic hu. Excluding china, states around the world executed 1,032 people in 2016. Amnesty international is an organization that fights against violations of human rights around the world. Last year amnesty international recorded 993 executions. Claire mallinson convened a meeting of the parliamentary group where she briefed them on the latest developments in the death penalty around the world and noted which countries amnesty is. Human rights now the amnesty international usa blog. Amnesty international is funded mainly by its membership and public donations. Nine people were sentenced to death in 2010, according to amnesty international s sources.
Learn the history behind the abolition of the death penalty in new zealand, and the role we played in ensuring others followed suit. Over twothirds of the countries in the world 9 have now abolished the death penalty in law or practice. Although that number is high, in 2016 the human rights organization registered 1,032 more. Global figures at least 778 people were executed in 22 countries in 20. Alex neve from amnesty international canada right, interviewing witnesses of human rights violations during 20 mission to chad amnesty international keeps vigilant watch on the rights of people around the world and publishes hundreds of independent reports based on our rigorous research, free of corporate and government influence. Hafez ibrahim pictured, was about to be executed in yemen in 2007 when he sent a mobile text message to amnesty. Article 62 of the international covenant on civil and political rights states. The evidence that we do have suggests that many more than the 682 executions around the world that we have recorded and verified in 2012 have been carried out by the chinese state. The death penalty has not been proved to have a special deterrent effect.
The organization campaigns for total abolition of capital punishment. Amnesty international recorded at least 690 executions in 20 countries in 2018, a decrease of 31% compared to 2017 at least 993. In belarus, china and viet nam, data on the use of the death penalty is classified as. Although drugs kill, i dont believe we need to kill because of drugs. Mongolia also passed a new criminal code abolishing the death penalty, which will take effect later this year. Since humans are fallible, the risk of executing the innocent can never be eliminated. Learn why amnesty international opposes the use of the death penalty under any circumstance. As with china, information around the use of the death penalty in belarus, mongolia and vietnam is regarded as a state secret, and difficult to investigate or verify. Martina visited amnesty ireland in 2010 to raise awareness about his case. Members from different countries, religions, and occupations are united by their desire to protect the rights of all people. The death penalty not only runs the risk of irrevocable error, it is also costly to the public purse as well as in social and psychological terms. Amnesty international believes than the death penalty should be abolished, once and for. All legal systems make mistakes, and as long as the death penalty exists, innocent people will be executed.