Joint statement to commemorate World day Against the Death Penalty

As we commemorate World Day Against the Death Penalty, it is comforting to note that 143 countries and territories have abolished the death penalty in law or in practice. It is even more assuring to that 41 of the 54 African States are abolitionist in law or de facto, and all European Union member states have abolished it. However, there is still work to be done to ensure global abolition of the death penalty. 

We consider the death penalty to be deeply flawed and an affront to human dignity. It is degrading and an affront to human society. The death penalty is irrevocable – any miscarriage or failure of justice in the implementation of the death penalty is irreversible. It is unfair as it is used disproportionately against the poor, people with intellectual disabilities and minority groups. Moreover, there is no conclusive evidence that the death penalty deters crime.