Against the Death Penalty

The Death Penalty

Human rights are fundamental rights which every human being is

entitled to just because they are human.

The death penalty is the ultimate, irreversible denial of human

rights. It is the cold blooded killing of a human being in the name of

‘justice’. In 1948, the United Nations adopted the Universal

Declaration of Human Rights; in Articles 3 and 5 it states that “no

one shall be subjected to cruel or degrading punishment and everyone

has the right to life and liberty”. The death penalty violates both of

these fundamental rights.

The United Nations Rights Commission (UNHRC) has passed a resolution

calling for all nations that continue executions, to restrict the

number of offenses for which the death penalty may be imposed and to

suspend executions with a view towards abolishing the death penalty.

While most nations have abolished the death penalty in law or

practice, the US is one of few industrialized countries in the world

which continues to execute criminals. The US accounts for the highest

number of executions; 65 people were executed in 2003, bringing a

total of 885 prisoners put to death since the US Supreme Court lifted

a moratorium on executions in 1976.

In the US, the death penalty is often promoted as a way to deter

violence and make society safer. Yet, states with the death penalty

have consistently had a much higher rate than those without the death

penalty. Those who promote abolition of capital punishment often point

to the homicide rate as evidence that the death penalty is

ineffective. Those who support the death penalty often point out that

the death penalty is badly needed in their sta...

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...olations and hold abusers accountable. They challenge governments

and those who hold power to end abusive practices and respect

international human rights law.

Conclusion:

The death penalty legitimizes an irreversible act of violence by the

state, in which many victims are later found innocent. In my opinion,

killing a murderer does not bring his victims back to life; it

achieves nothing but the death of another person. It only serves to

create more victims and continues the cycle of violence. No ones life

should be placed under another person’s authority nor should anyone

have the power to determine whether a person shall die. The US should

be protecting their citizens and have other alternative measures, such

as life imprisonment; to ensure that international laws and human

rights are not being violated.