China, along with Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the US, carried out almost all – about 88 per cent – of the 1,252 known executions that Amnesty International recorded last year.

Today is the day to stand up in opposition of capital punishment, as we mark the World Day Against the Death Penalty.

The death penalty is cruel, inhuman, has no clear deterrent effect on crime and has no place in a modern criminal justice system.

More than two thirds of the world's countries have now abolished the death penalty in law or practice. At the end of June this year, the figure stood at 137. Out of those countries, 92 are abolitionist for all crimes, 11 are abolitionist for ordinary crimes only and 34 are abolitionists in practice.

And once a country has abolished the death penalty it’s hardly ever reintroduced.

Lack of transparency

But going against this global drift China last year executed at least 470 people. While Iran put 317 people to death, Saudi Arabia 143, Pakistan at least 135, Viet Nam 25, Afghanistan 15 and Japan nine.

China, the world’s leading state executioner, is one of the 14 Asian countries that still carry out executions – despite the growing opposition.

Amnesty International's secretary general Irene Khan says:

" Death sentences continue to be imposed for a wide range of crimes and people executed often after unfair trials in a number of countries in Asia. There is also a terrible lack of transparency about the use of the death penalty.

" A year ago the vast majority of countries voted in favour of a moratorium on the death penalty at the UN. This year we ask Asian leaders to take steps towards making this a reality. They should listen to the calls of people, worldwide, who are joining together today to demand an end to this cruel and inhumane punishment. "

A global moratorium

That moratorium, adopted by the UN General Assembly last December, confirmed that the world is shifting away from support for capital punishment. The moratorium was passed by an overwhelming majority: 104 in favour, 54 against and 29 abstentions.

And it set the tone that it is time for global change.

In Asia Pacific the countries that voted in favour of the moratorium were Australia, Cambodia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Palau, Philippines, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

Those Asian countries who abstained were Bhutan, Fiji, South Korea, Laos and Viet Nam. And those who voted against it were Aghanistan, Bangladesh, Brunei, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, North Korea, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Thailand and Tonga.

Once and for all

But despite those who voted against the resolution it was passed.

We must keep up the momentum, international trends and increasing regional pressure will help convince countries like China to finally, once and for all, to do anyway with a barbaric and brutal practice.

Right now all over the world, men, women and children sit locked in jail cells waiting for their executioner. Stand up on World Day Against the Death Penalty and add your voice to the growing tide of change.

We are opposed to the use of the death penalty, everywhere in the world, for whatever reason – it is never acceptable. That means ever.