Three death row survivors call for global moratorium on executions
17 October 2007, 09:40AM
© AI
Three men sentenced to death for crimes they did not commit, today urged member states of the United Nations General Assembly to support a resolution for a global moratorium on executions.
"I have faced death at the hands of my government and I'm here to tell the international community of the human suffering caused by the death penalty, and to urge them to end this terrible punishment," said Edward Edmary Mpagi, from Uganda who spent 18 years on death row. Mpagi, sentenced to death in 1981, was accused of killing a man who was later found to be alive.
Speaking at an Amnesty International event at the United Nations in New York, in advance of a resolution for a global moratorium on executions, the three men highlighted how unfair trials, erroneous decisions or flaws in the judicial system can result in innocent people being executed, and urged governments from around the world to stop the use of the death penalty.
"It's difficult to describe what it is like to serve time on death row knowing you are innocent," said Ray Krone, the 100th prisoner on death row in the US to be freed after DNA tests proved his innocence in 2002.
"All you know is that what seems like an awful nightmare is now reality, a reality beyond comprehension. The US death-penalty system is broken. What happened to me can happen to anyone. And it doesn't have to be that way."
In 1949, the Japanese authorities arrested Sakae Menda for the murder of two people. Police extracted a false "confession" from Mr Menda through torture, and after an unfair trial, he was found guilty and sentenced to death. Determined to prove his innocence, Sakae Menda applied for retrials six times before being granted one. In 1983, 34 years after being sentenced to death, the courts acquitted Mr Menda of the charges, making him the first Japanese prisoner on death row to be released.
"Living each day knowing that you may be sent to your death at any given month, day or moment is torture," said Sakae Menda. "Being on death row dehumanises and has a massive psychological effect on a person. It's an awful penalty to inflict on anyone, and is even more devastating for someone who is innocent."
Executions in Japan are typically held in secret and prisoners are either not warned of their impending execution, or are notified only in the morning of the day of the execution.
Speaking at the UN, Amnesty International's expert on death penalty, Piers Bannister said, "These three men provide graphic evidence that the death penalty is administered by flawed systems, whatever the culture and resources of the country concerned. No one knows how many innocent men and women have been executed through history. But the ever present risk of executing the innocent provides yet another compelling reason why the time has come for the global moratorium of executions."
The facts
- Since the death penalty was re-established in USA in 1973, 124 people on death row have been released after being found innocent, or their conviction rested on insufficient evidence was gathered against them
- To date, 133 countries have abolished the use of the death penalty in law or practice.
- In 2006, 91 per cent of all known executions took place in only six countries: China, Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Sudan and the USA.
- In November 2007, the United Nations General Assembly (Third Committee) will vote on a resolution calling for a global moratorium on executions
- Amnesty International calls on the 62 UN General Assembly to adopt the resolution:
- Affirming a right to life and stating that abolition of the death penalty is essential for the protection of human rights
- Calling on retentionist states to establish a moratorium on executions as a first step toward abolition of the death penalty
- Calling on retentionist states to respect international standards that guarantee the protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty, and
- Requesting the UN Secretary-General to report on the implementation of the moratorium to the next session of the UNGA.
By Category
By month
Make an impact
You can make a difference right now. Your action will help shine the light of hope into people's lives across the world.
Check out what 4880 people are doing right now to support human rights.
Stay Informed
Get Involved
Amnesty International relies on your support to continue our vital work protecting human rights. Please help us keep governments accountable, bring the guilty to justice, and save lives.
Sitewide information
- Copyright © Amnesty International Australia
- ABN: 640 0280 6233
- Phone: 1300 300 920
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 the web editor.
Warren Westacott
30 October 2007, 06:28PM
I would like all governments in the world to abolish the death penalty.As well as the risk of killing innocent people who are we to play God & decide who lives & who does not
Hels B
29 October 2007, 02:42PM
Murder is always wrong and state sanctioned murder is even more of a crime as it should be the role of a Government to lead people by by example. The death penalty should be abolished!
Amagoo
26 October 2007, 05:59PM
If the death penalty is a deterrent, why do people still offend?
If we are better than a murderer, why then do we kill him or her?
marion moise
26 October 2007, 12:19PM
it is time the world community accepted that violence is not solved by violence… stop the state sanctioned killings....
Cath Ortlieb
26 October 2007, 05:09AM
Governments must respect human life by not taking it, for any reason. Executions are barbaric and cannot be tolerated as they are just an act of revenge. Society is demeaned by such a deliberate act of murder.
Wendy Koolhof
25 October 2007, 08:17PM
The right to life is the basic human right that should always be adhered to no matter what criminal deed that has been done by anyone in this world. To save one human innocent life is worth it.
Lauren Moore
25 October 2007, 01:34PM
Hopefully next month an out-dated and inhumane punishment will begin to be abolished worldwide.
Heather Woods
25 October 2007, 12:50PM
I agree with the removal of the death penalty acroos the world. It is barbaric!
Kelly Breen
25 October 2007, 12:14PM
Time to give away ‘an eye for any eye’ as a solution.
christine rands
25 October 2007, 11:40AM
Murder is never justified or acceptable - even if it is State sanctioned
Brad Homewood
20 October 2007, 03:23PM
Apart from the obvious injustice of innocent people being killed, the death penalty sends out the message that its alright to kill somebody as long as you have a good enough reason, even in cases where the most horrific crimes have been committed and the evidence is beyond any doubt i still don’t believe anybody has the right to kill.
I only hope that the UN general assembly (third committee) sees it this way as well and votes in favour of the resolution in November, this would be a great step forward to a even greater goal of total abolition of the death penalty, seek not vengeance but leave room for divine retribution.
Page 1 of 1 pages