Death sentences and executions in 2008
24 March 2009, 07:00AM
In 2008 the world moved even closer towards abolition of the death penalty.
In December, the United Nations General Assembly adopted by a large majority a second resolution calling for a moratorium with a view to abolish the death penalty. This resolution consolidates three decades of steady progress towards complete abolition of the death penalty.
Download Amnesty International's full report, Death sentences and executions in 2008 (pdf size: 1.1Mb)
Developments at the UN provided a welcome boost to campaigners working across the globe to prohibit the death penalty. It also prompted some small but significant steps at the regional level. Notably, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights again called on African states that still retain the death penalty to observe a moratorium on executions in the region with a view to abolish the death penalty.
Europe and Central Asia is now virtually a death penalty free zone following the abolition of the death penalty in Uzbekistan for all crimes. There is just one country left - Belarus - that still carries out executions.
In the Americas, only one state - the USA - consistently executes. However, even the USA moved away from the death penalty in 2008. This year, the smallest number of executions since 1995 was reported in the USA.
The majority of countries now refrain from using the death penalty. Furthermore, in 2008 Amnesty International recorded only 25 out of 59 countries that retain the death penalty actually carried out executions. The practice of states indicates that there is increasing consolidation of majority international consensus that the death penalty cannot be reconciled with respect for human rights.
Despite positive developments a number of tough challenges remain. Countries in Asia carried out more executions in 2008 than the rest of the world put together. The region with the second highest number of reported executions was the Middle East.
In 2008, at least 2,390 people were known to have been executed in 25 countries and at least 8864 people were sentenced to death in 52 countries around the world.
Some of the methods used to execute people in 2008 included beheading, electrocution, hanging, lethal injection, shooting and stoning.
Continuing the trend from previous years, in 2008 China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the United States of America were the five states with the highest rate of executions. Together they carried out 93 percent of all executions worldwide.
Download the full report, Death sentences and executions in 2008 (pdf size: 1.1Mb), for more details on the death penalty by country and region and global trends on its abolition.
The death penalty around the world
Browse our interactive map to see the state of the death penaly worldwide:
Countries that executed more than 100 people in 2008
Countries that executed between 10 and 37 people in 2008
Countries that executed between 1 and 9 people in 2008
Countries that sentenced people to death in 2008
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Comments
Comments are submitted by members of the public and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or positions of Amnesty International Australia. If you find a comment objectionable please contact us.
James
26 March 2009, 10:09AM
Ahh I see, I think you’ve got a point. Will have a look at that, thanks for piping up Andrew! :)
Andrew Tanner
26 March 2009, 08:40AM
Oh, it’s OK. I guess it’s unusual to say “between 37 and 10” and not the other way round. I thought it was a mistake.
James
26 March 2009, 08:23AM
Hi Andrew, not sure exactly what you’re referring to, could you specify please?
Andrew Tanner
25 March 2009, 03:13PM
Something about the map doesn’t add up - check the key!
Naifoua
25 March 2009, 02:13PM
that is the saddest thing i’ve ever seen.:( it is so sad to see such people go throgh that sad process:(.
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