Edmund Rice Justice Bulletin

More than 100 nation states have now abolished the death penalty, whilst a further 57 have an established practice of not carrying out executions, or have placed its use under a moratorium. A total of 37 states maintain the death penalty in both law and practice. In 2013 (the most recent year for which figures are available) 778 executions were carried out in the world with most taking place in China, Iran, Iraq, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, USA and Somalia.

International campaigns to abolish the death penalty continue and recommendations to legislate for the abolition of capital punishment and ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights are regularly made during the Universal Periodic Review of retentionist States at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Those arguing for its abolition argue that the death penalty
- is a barbaric and antiquated practice when more socially-effective and civilized techniques to punish (and rehabilitate) criminals are available,
- does not act as a deterrent,
- has too often resulted in the execution of the innocent,
- is a more expensive than other suitable alternatives and in practice
- discriminates against the poor and members of racial minorities.

The impending execution of two Australians in Indonesia following their convictions for drug trafficking has once again brought the issue to the fore in Australia. A final effort to prevent the execution of the two Australians can be found here.