Thursday, April 11, 2013
In its fourth annual report on the global use of the death penalty, Amnesty International found progress towards its abolition in all regions of the world.
In 2012, 21 countries carried out executions - the same as 2011, but down from 28 countries a decade ago. The five countries that carried out the most executions are China, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the United States.
682 known executions were carried out worldwide, 2 more than in 2011. Amnesty International believes more were carried out in China, but said it cannot obtain accurate data.
Amnesty International "opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception, regardless of the nature or circumstances of the crime; guilt, innocence or other characteristics of the individual; or the method used by the state to carry out the execution. The death penalty violates the right to life and is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment."
For more information, see the Amnesty International press release.