The following opinion piece by Katie Wood, Amnesty International Campaign Coordinator, was published in_ The Age _on 10 October 2008, World Day Against the Death Penalty.

Today, in Viet Nam, Tang Thi Ba, a 52 year-old former post office treasurer is facing the death penalty. She was sentenced to death in May 2008 on charges of embezzlement. It is likely she will be executed by a five person firing squad, possibly in public. Her family will not be informed beforehand.

Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and works for its abolition in all countries, in all cases.

The Australian Government has a policy of opposition to the death penalty. However, it intervenes on behalf of some individuals who face the death penalty, but not others.

As the final legal manoeuvres play out for the Bali bombers in Indonesia, recent comments by the Prime Minister and the Attorney-General have again plunged Australia’s position on the death penalty into ambiguity.

How can the death penalty represent “justice” in some cases, but a violation of international human rights norms in others?

By being selective in its calls for clemency, the Government is promoting a two-tiered policy on capital punishment and undermining Australia’s standing on the issue.

The Federal Government should take a principled and consistent stance against the death penalty.

Capital punishment is inconsistent with the right to life. There is no evidence that it is any more effective in reducing crime than other harsh punishments.

It is irrevocable. Coupled with a criminal justice system that is not immune from error and prejudice, the risk of executing an innocent person is ever present.

It is discriminatory. The poor and members of racial, ethnic and religious minorities are disproportionately subject to it.

It can be imposed and carried out arbitrarily. In some countries it is used as a tool of repression.

Whatever form it takes – electrocution, hanging, gassing, beheading, stoning, shooting or lethal injection – it is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. And it is a punishment that has no place in today’s world.

Yet, it persists.

In 2007, at least 1,252 people were executed in 24 countries. At least 3,347 people were sentenced to death in 51 countries in the same year. Up to 27,500 people are estimated to be held on death row across the world.

Many more people could have been executed in secret. The taking of a human life by the state is one of the most powerful acts a government can commit. As many countries have illustrated, the journey to abolition of the death penalty is fuelled by debate. When the authorities in states that kill suppress this discussion and starve the public of information, they deny the population the right to informed debate. But the severity of executions demands that they be subject to public focus and discussion – not choked by a conspiracy of silence.

Every year on 10 October, national and international institutions, organisations and individuals rally together to oppose the death penalty – wherever it happens, whoever is convicted and whatever the crime. This year, the World Day against the Death Penalty is focused on Asia, where despite the worldwide trend towards abolition, 14 countries continue to carry out executions.

Each year in Asia an alarming number of people are executed, often following torture or unfair trials. Record numbers are being sentenced to death for drug-related offences. China executes more people than any other country, yet there are serious flaws at every level of its justice system.

In countries such as Taiwan, Japan and South Korea there is growing pressure to abolish the death penalty. Even in Singapore and China there have been discussions about abolition, and the Chinese Government is now automatically reviewing all death penalty sentences in the Supreme Court.

Last December, the UN General Assembly endorsed a resolution calling for "a moratorium on executions" by an overwhelming majority – 104 votes in favour, 54 against and 29 abstentions.

Australia voted in favour of universal abolition. The adoption of the resolution with such a clear majority shows the global abolition of the death penalty is possible.

The taking of life by the state is an affront to human dignity. We urge all governments to follow the commitments made at the UN and abolish the death penalty once and for all.

Katie Wood
Campaign Coordinator
Amnesty International Australia

For more information on the death penalty in our region, read Amnesty International's statement published on World Day Against the Death Penalty.