Amnesty International

The latest information from Amnesty International shows that over half the countries in the world have banned capital punishment (Amnesty International). Of these, 78 countries have banished the death penalty for all crimes, 15 have abolished the death penalty for all but the most exceptional crimes, and 24 have can be considered abolitionist in practice: they retain the death penalty but have not carried it out in the past 10 years. Seventy-eight other countries use the death penalty very sparingly. America is not one of those countries. Once the death penalty is abolished, it is rarely reintroduced: it was in America. Since 1990, America is one of only 8 countries which have been known to execute people who were under age 18 at the time they committed the crime.

The death penalty persists in America, yet scientific studies have shown that it does not have a deterrent effect greater than any other punishment, (Amnesty International). The most recent survey of this research data was conducted for the United Nations in 2002. Other research done for the United Nations and updated in 2002 also shows that there is no evidence for an upsurge in crime once the death penalty is abolished. In Canada, for instance, the homicide rate has continued to decline ever since the death penalty was abolished 26 years ago.

Four treaties now exist for states committed to abolishing the death penalty (Amnesty International). The Protocol to the American States on Human Rights to A

Related Essays

Amnesty International English lawyer, Peter Benenson, first launched Amnesty International in May 1961, when he published an appeal in the London newspaper, The Observer. .... (2024 8 )

Amnesty International .... rights organizations devoted to the spread of peace or humanity have been as successful in achieving their goals as has Amnesty International, an international .... (1142 5 )

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AND INFORMATION RESOURCES AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AND INFORMATION RESOURCES Amnesty International is one of the best known human rights organizations despite being only 40 years old. .... (978 4 )

Amnesty International and Human Rights This paper will discuss the organization Amnesty International and its efforts toward the establishment of human rights around the world. .... (5359 21 )

AMNESTY IUNTERNATIONAL: HOW IT WORKS AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: HOW IT WORKS AND WHY Amnesty International is a 40-year old international organization, non-political, and dedicated to eliminating .... (2747 11 )

Category: History - A