By Margretha Nónklett & Unn Poulsen, Amnesty International Faroe Islands Section.
It is our pleasure to welcome Mr. Bill Clinton and Mr. Hans Blix to the Faroe Islands to speak about globalization.
In an age of globalization, marred by division and discord, the need for universal values becomes even more needed than before.
Nearly sixty years ago, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted recognizing the need for universal values. Here the world leaders gathered and agreed on the fundamental principles that human rights are universal and indivisible -- that all human rights should be enjoyed by all people.
Today, nearly sixty years later there do, however, seem to be different opinions about some of the most fundamental rights in the Declaration, namely the “right to life, liberty and security” (article 3).
People around the world still disagree about whether it is legitimate to take the lives of those who have themselves taken life. To Amnesty International, the death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. It violates the right to life. It is irrevocable and can be inflicted on the innocent. It has never been shown to deter crime more effectively than other punishments.
Amnesty International seeks to play a major role in the globalization of the fight for a death penalty-free world. Progress has been dramatic. In 1977 only 16 countries had abolished the death penalty for all crimes. Today around 133 countries have abolished the death penalty in law or practice. On average, in the past decade more than three countries a year have abolished the death penalty for all crimes.
Despite this trend some nations continue to execute their citizens. During 2006, at least 1,591 people were executed in 25 countries. At least 3,861 people were sentenced to death in 55 countries. 91 per cent of all known executions took place in six countries: China, Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Sudan and the USA.
53 prisoners were executed in the USA in 2006, bringing to 1,057 the total number executed since the use of the death penalty was resumed in 1977.
Scientific studies have consistently failed to find convincing evidence that the death penalty deters crime more effectively than other punishments and as long as the death penalty is maintained, the risk of executing the innocent can never be eliminated. Since 1973, 123 US prisoners have been released from death row after evidence emerged of their innocence of the crimes for which they were sentenced to death.
So if the death penalty doesn’t protect the citizens, risks innocent lives and is applied unfairly, why retain it?
Amnesty International believes that the world is moving towards being execution-free. The question is when this will be achieved and how many people will have to die before then?
Amnesty International Faroe Islands Section would like to take this great opportunity to urge Mr. Bill Clinton to bring back a message to Mrs. Clinton, who is running for President of the United States. A strong message that there is a need for change – a need for universal values and respect for human rights.
Sources:
www.amnestyusa.org
www.amnesty.org
Stop the State Killing. Amnesty International. AI Index 50/011/2007
