There are over fifty countries that actively retain the death penalty.
135 countries have abolished the death penalty in law or practice.
62 countries retain and use the death penalty, most often as a punishment for people convicted of murder.
At least 1,591 people were known to be executed in 25 countries during 2006. The true figure was certainly higher.
91 per cent of all known executions in 2006 took place in China followed by Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Sudan and the USA as the main contributors.
Europe
Belarus
Africa
Botswana, Burundi, Chad, Comoros, D.R. Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Libya, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, Zimbabwe
The Americas
Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cuba, Dominica, Guatemala, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts & Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, USA
Middle East
Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestinian Authority, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE, Yemen
Asia (exc Middle East)
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, N. Korea, S. Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam
EXECUTING CHILDREN
International law prohibits the execution of anyone who was under 18 years old at the time of the crime.
Since March, 2008 Stop Child Executions Campaign has recorded 101 children facing executions worldwide: 96 in Iran, 2 in Saudi Arabia, 2 in Sudan and 1 in Yemen.
9 juveniles are reported to have been executed since January 1, 2007: 8 in Iran and 1 in Saudi Arabia.
Since January 1, 2007, 4 minors have been saved from execution: 1 in Yemen and 3 in Iran.
Despite the fact that the government of Iran has signed International Covenants that forbid them to execute anyone who has allegedly committed an offence before the age of 18, they continue to do so. In many cases these minors are imprisoned until the age of 18 and then executed. Currently, there are at least 96 minors on death row in Iran.
THE DEATH PENALTY TODAY
More than 90 countries have now outlawed the death penalty altogether, and more than two thirds of all states have abolished it either in law or in practice.
In 2007, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution calling for a worldwide moratorium on the death penalty as a first step towards total abolition. While the resolution is non-binding, it was passed by an overwhelming majority (104 votes to 54) which demonstrates a worldwide commitment to abolishing capital punishment.
sources:
hands off cain
stop child executions
amnesty international
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