 World Day Against the Death Penalty is annually observed across the globe on October 10 to raise awareness about the inhumane and cruel practice of capital punishment and the need to get rid of the death penalty from our justice systems.
- 10th October 2022 marks the observance of the 20th World Day Against the Death Penalty.
The Death Penalty: A Road Paved with Torture:
World Day against the Death Penalty 2022 is dedicated to reflecting on the relationship between the use of the death penalty and torture or other cruel punishment.
Background:
i. World Day Against the Death Penalty was initiated by the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty (WCADP) and supported by numerous Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and World Governments (Amnesty International, the European Union, and the United Nations).
ii. On 26 September 2007, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe officially recognized World Day as European Day against the Death Penalty which is held annually on October 10.
- The day is a European contribution to the World Day against the Death Penalty, which is held annually on the same day.
Key Points:
i. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, more than 70% of the world’s countries have abolished capital punishment in law or practice.
ii. According to Amnesty, more than two-thirds of the world’s nations have abolished the death penalty in law or practice.
iii. 55 countries still retained the death penalty and had carried out executions in the past decade.
The Death Penalty in Practice across the World:Â
According to the Statics from Amnesty International,
- 110 States have abolished the death penalty for all crimes; 7 States have abolished the death penalty for common law crimes; 27 States are abolitionists in practice, and 55 States are retentionists.
- China, Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Syria are the most executions in 2021.
- At the end of 2021, 28,670 individuals are known to be under death sentences worldwide.
- 2,382 prisoners were on U.S. death row, the 4th highest recorded total, behind Iraq (8,000+), Pakistan (3,800+), and Nigeria (3,036+).
- Amnesty also recorded 2,052 death sentences imposed in 56 countries in 2021, up 39% from the 1,477 in 54 countries in 2020.
The Death Penalty in India:Â
i. In 2021, India pronounced 144 death sentences, 136 of which were imposed upon men and 8 on women.
ii. By the end of 2021, 488 prisoners were on death row in India.
iii. The Supreme Court decided on 6 death penalty cases in 2021 but did not confirm any death sentences.
About Amnesty International:
Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 10 million people in over 150 countries and territories who campaign to end abuses of human rights.
Secretary-General- Dr Agnès Callamard
Headquarters- London, United Kingdom
Establishment- 1961
