英语资料deathpenalty.docVIP

Key points The death penalty is a violation of fundamental human rights: the right to life and the right not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. It undermines civil relations in society and the dignity of the people that live in it. Capital punishment does not deter crime more effectively than other punishments. It is sometimes used disproportionately against the poor, minorities and political opponents. It is also impossible to ensure that innocent people are not executed: since 1976, 123 people have been released from death row in the USA after being wrongly convicted. The Council of Europe has made the abolition of capital punishment one of its main priorities. It has been fighting for 30 years to outlaw the death penalty across Europe and to make abolition a universally accepted value. As a result, no execution has taken place in the Council’s member states since 1997. Many countries, including Japan and the USA, still use the death penalty. The Council of Europe is committed to continuing its fight against this cruel and inhumane punishment until it has been completely abolished both in Europe and worldwide. Summary The death penalty was once practised in most countries of the world and has still not been abolished in many states, including the USA and Japan. It has always been an emotional issue, especially in the wake of gruesome murders or terrorist attacks. Many people are in favour of capital punishment, arguing that a person who has committed an atrocious act deserves to die. However, the death penalty neither deters crime nor helps the victims. Miscarriages of justice also occur far more often than most people realise. Furthermore, an innocent person can be executed on purpose, capital punishment being a notorious means of silencing political opponents. The death penalty is often applied in an unfair, arbitrary and discriminatory manner. Its irrevocable nature leaves it open to abuse. According to the US Death Penalty Info