Death Penalty

Facts about Death Penalty From Amnesty International’s website (updated 20 September, 2006) Death sentences and executions During 2005, at least 2,148 people were executed in 22 countries and at least people were sentenced to death in 53 countries. These were only minimum figures; the true figures were certainly higher. In 2005, 94 per cent of all known executions took place in China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the USA. Based on public reports available, Amnesty International estimated that at least 1,770 people were executed in China during the year, although the true figures were believed to be much higher. A Chinese legal expert was recently quoted as stating the figure for executions is approximately 8,000 based on information from local officials and judges, but official national statistics on the application of the death penalty remained classified as a state secret. Iran executed at least 94 people, and Saudi Arabia at least 86. There were 60 executions in the USA. The total figure for those currently condemned to death and awaiting execution is difficult to access, although human rights researcher Mark Warren has estimated the number at between 19,474 and 24,546. These figures are based on information from human rights groups, media reports and the limited official figures available. Again, the true total is probably higher. During 2005, at least 2,148 people were executed in 22 countries and at least people were sentenced to death in 53 countries. These were only minimum figures; the true figures were certainly higher. In 2005, 94 per cent of all known executions took place in China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the USA. Based on public reports available, Amnesty International estimated that at least 1,770 people were executed in China during the year, although the true figures were believed to be much higher. A Chinese legal expert was recently quoted as stating the figure for executions is approximately 8,000 based on information from local officials and judges, but official national statistics on the application of the death penalty remained classified as a state secret. Iran executed at least 94 people, and Saudi Arabia at least 86. There were 60 executions in the USA. The total figure for those currently condemned to death and awaiting execution is difficult to access, although human rights researcher Mark Warren has estimated the number at between 19,474 and 24,546. These figures are based on information from human rights groups, media reports and the limited official figures available. Again, the true total is probably higher.

Facts about Death Penalty From Amnesty International’s website (updated 20 September, 2006) Methods of execution Methods of execution Executions have been carried out by the following methods since 2000: - Beheading (in Saudi Arabia, Iraq) - Electrocution (in USA) - Hanging (in Egypt, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Pakistan, Singapore and other countries) - Lethal injection (in China, Guatemala, Philippines, Thailand, USA) - Shooting (in Belarus, China, Somalia, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Viet Nam and other countries) - Stoning (in Afghanistan, Iran)

Facts about Death Penalty From Amnesty International’s website (updated 20 September, 2006) International agreements to abolish the death penalty International agreements to abolish the death penalty One of the most important developments in recent years has been the adoption of international treaties whereby states commit themselves to not having the death penalty. Four such treaties now exist: The Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which has been ratified by 58 states. Eight other states have signed the Protocol, indicating their intention to become parties to it at a later date. The Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which has been ratified by 58 states. Eight other states have signed the Protocol, indicating their intention to become parties to it at a later date. The Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights to Abolish the Death Penalty, which has been ratified by eight states and signed by one other in the Americas. The Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights to Abolish the Death Penalty, which has been ratified by eight states and signed by one other in the Americas. Protocol No. 6 to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (European Convention on Human Rights), which has been ratified by 45 European states and signed by one other. Protocol No. 6 to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (European Convention on Human Rights), which has been ratified by 45 European states and signed by one other. Protocol No. 13 to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (European Convention on Human Rights), which has been ratified by 36 European states and signed by 8 others. Protocol No. 13 to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (European Convention on Human Rights), which has been ratified by 36 European states and signed by 8 others. Protocol No. 6 to the European Convention on Human Rights is an agreement to abolish the death penalty in peacetime. The Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights provide for the total abolition of the death penalty but allow states wishing to do so to retain the death penalty in wartime as an exception. Protocol No. 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights provides for the total abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances.

Facts about Death Penalty From Amnesty International’s website (updated 20 September, 2006) Abolitionist and retentionist countries Over half the countries in the world have now abolished the death penalty in law or practice. Amnesty International's latest information shows that: 88 countries and territories have abolished the death penalty for all crimes; 88 countries and territories have abolished the death penalty for all crimes; 11 countries have abolished the death penalty for all but exceptional crimes such as wartime crimes; 11 countries have abolished the death penalty for all but exceptional crimes such as wartime crimes; 30 countries can be considered abolitionist in practice: they retain the death penalty in law but have not carried out any executions for the past 10 years or more and are believed to have a policy or established practice of not carrying out executions, 30 countries can be considered abolitionist in practice: they retain the death penalty in law but have not carried out any executions for the past 10 years or more and are believed to have a policy or established practice of not carrying out executions, making a total of 129 countries which have abolished the death penalty in law or practice. making a total of 129 countries which have abolished the death penalty in law or practice. 68 other countries and territories retain and use the death penalty, but the number of countries which actually execute prisoners in any one year is much smaller. 68 other countries and territories retain and use the death penalty, but the number of countries which actually execute prisoners in any one year is much smaller.

Facts about Death Penalty From Amnesty International’s website (updated 20 September, 2006) Progress towards worldwide abolition Over 40 countries have abolished the death penalty for all crimes since They include countries in Africa (recent examples include Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire), the Americas (Canada, Paraguay, Mexico), Asia and the Pacific (Philippines, Bhutan. Samoa) and Europe and Central Asia ( Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey, Turkmenistan). Moves to reintroduce the death penalty Once abolished, the death penalty is seldom reintroduced. Since 1985, over 50 countries have abolished the death penalty in law or, having previously abolished it for ordinary crimes, have gone on to abolish it for all crimes. During the same period only four abolitionist countries reintroduced the death penalty. Two of them - Nepal and Philippines- have since abolished the death penalty again. There have been no executions in the other two (Gambia, Papua New Guinea). Over 40 countries have abolished the death penalty for all crimes since They include countries in Africa (recent examples include Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire), the Americas (Canada, Paraguay, Mexico), Asia and the Pacific (Philippines, Bhutan. Samoa) and Europe and Central Asia ( Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey, Turkmenistan). Moves to reintroduce the death penalty Once abolished, the death penalty is seldom reintroduced. Since 1985, over 50 countries have abolished the death penalty in law or, having previously abolished it for ordinary crimes, have gone on to abolish it for all crimes. During the same period only four abolitionist countries reintroduced the death penalty. Two of them - Nepal and Philippines- have since abolished the death penalty again. There have been no executions in the other two (Gambia, Papua New Guinea).

Facts about Death Penalty From Amnesty International’s website (updated 20 September, 2006) The death penalty in the USA 60 prisoners were executed in the USA in 2005, bringing the year-end total to 1004 executed since the use of the death penalty was resumed in prisoners were executed in the USA in 2005, bringing the year-end total to 1004 executed since the use of the death penalty was resumed in Around 3,400 prisoners were under sentence of death as of 1 January Around 3,400 prisoners were under sentence of death as of 1 January of the 50 US states provide for the death penalty in law. The death penalty is also provided under US federal military and civilian law. 38 of the 50 US states provide for the death penalty in law. The death penalty is also provided under US federal military and civilian law.

Keep in mind…. Human Rights affecting aspects of Death Penalty Human Rights affecting aspects of Death Penalty Right to life (not to be arbitrarily deprived of) Right to life (not to be arbitrarily deprived of) Fair trial/due process Fair trial/due process Non-discrimination Non-discrimination No inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment No inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment Laws of war Laws of war

Keep in mind…. Limits to death penalty Limits to death penalty Only serious crimes (usually involving someone else’s death) (e.g. Art. 6 ICCPR) Only serious crimes (usually involving someone else’s death) (e.g. Art. 6 ICCPR) Non retroactivity (e.g. Art. 6 ICCPR) Non retroactivity (e.g. Art. 6 ICCPR) Not for political offenses (e.g. Art. 4.4 IACHR) Not for political offenses (e.g. Art. 4.4 IACHR) Not for minors (at the time the crime is committed) (e.g. ICCPR, IACHR, CRC) Not for minors (at the time the crime is committed) (e.g. ICCPR, IACHR, CRC) Not for pregnant women (at the time of execution) Not for pregnant women (at the time of execution) Not for mentally handicapped people Not for mentally handicapped people

Keep in mind…. Procedural safeguards Procedural safeguards Not arbitrary Not arbitrary Right to seek pardon/amnesty/commutation Right to seek pardon/amnesty/commutation Presumption of innocence Presumption of innocence Notification to consular authorities Notification to consular authorities

Keep in mind…. How How No long death row (but unclear how long is too much) No long death row (but unclear how long is too much) Least possible suffering (mental and physical) Least possible suffering (mental and physical) Not in public or in a degrading way Not in public or in a degrading way