Imposing the death penalty has not reduced drug crimes in Asia -New Report
Asia
Asia is the continent that executes the most people for drug-related crimes. The report, published for the 13th World Day against the Death Penalty, analyzes how the death penalty is applied for drug-related crimes in Asia, evaluates the most common arguments used by governments to justify their use of this inhumane and illegal measure, and exposes why these arguments are unjustified.
On the occasion of the release of this report, the FIDH and the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, also published an interactive map indicating some key facts and figures on the death penalty in Asia over the last 10 years.
The application of the death penalty to drug-related crimes also constitutes a clear violation of international human rights standards. International treaties have limited the use of the death penalty to the “most serious crimes,” but drug crimes do not meet that threshold and thus cannot be subjected to capital punishment.
“In addition to not reducing crime, the death penalty for drug-related offences is applied in a discriminatory manner against those in the most vulnerable situations,” said Karim Lahidji, FIDH President.
