10 October, 2024. One of the most persistent myths surrounding the death penalty is that it can have a deterrent effect, perpetuating the false idea that individuals will refrain from committing a criminal act should they face capital punishment. However, there exists no credible studies linking capital punishment and reduced crime rates. On the contrary, studies even suggest that the death penalty for rape is likely to further reduce reporting rates for the crime, indicating that it can likely further undermine opportunities for restorative justice and reparations for sexual and gender based crimes.
This World Day explores why capital punishment is maintained despite evidence showing its inefficacy in combating violence and crime. Governments around the world often utilise security narratives to shape public opinion and garner support, instrumentalising fear to consolidate and maintain state control and justify repressive policies. These narratives also shape who is considered a threat, and who is considered worthy of protection and further perpetuate power imbalances, discrimination and inequality, all of which paradoxically contribute to an environment conducive to insecurity. They also divert attention away from the underlying issues that lead to crime and violence including poverty, inequality, and lack of opportunities, as well as systemic gender biases that perpetuate violence against women, girls, and LGBTQI+ persons.
The interconnected and complex challenges that we are met with today including climate change, political instability, and socioeconomic divides that fuel instability as we understand it, will not be solved through fear and retribution. Capital punishment not only inadequately addresses such issues, but is also unjust, inhumane, and in flagrant violation of international standards. Its retributive nature undermines all possibilities for restorative justice and a society that upholds human rights for all. Join us this World Day Against the Death Penalty to raise awareness around the death penalty and to debunk the myth that it keeps us safe.
The death penalty in practice, key facts and figures [1]
– 112 countries have abolished the death penalty for all crimes
– 9 countries have abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes
– 23 countries are abolitionist in practice
– 55 countries still uphold and use the death penalty
– 16 countries were known to have carried out executions in 2023
– The 5 states that executed the most in the world in 2023 are, in order: China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and the USA.
– At least 27, 678 individuals are known to be under a sentence of death around the world at the end of 2023, of which less than 5% are women.
Download related documents:
The 2024 brochure
The detailed factsheet
The poster
Debunking the deterrence theory
Facts and Figures
Ten things you can do to help end the death penalty
1/ Organise a gathering. It can take the shape of a demonstration, a webinar, a remote workshop, a debate or a movie screening, an art exhibition or theater performance
2/ Learn and engage with grassroots practices that promote healing and accountability processes in your community, like restorative and transformative justice
3/ Build partnerships with minority group’s rights organisations (women, LGBTQI+ persons, religious minorities, ethnic minorities…) to raise awareness on how discriminations are an aggravating factor of psychological and physical torture
4/ Lobby politicians to abolish the death penalty and implement preventative security policies
5/ Promote a culture of peace in your community and beyond. Advocate for policies and actions that foster dialogue and nonviolent conflict resolution
6/ Join the events prepared for the abolition of the death penalty worldwide. Visit the World Coalition page for events near you !
7/ Donate to a group working to end the death penalty
8/ Follow the social media campaign on Facebook, Instagram and Xand launch your own using: #nodeathpenalty
10/ Participate in Cities Against the Death Penalty / Cities for Life on 30 November 2024 and 2025.
11/ Share the campaign : Facebook, X
For more details and ideas on how you can help fight the death penalty, download the mobilisation kit.