Regarding the execution in Japan of seven people
Statement
STATEMENT – WORLD COALITION AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY
The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty would like to express its sympathy and support to all courageous anti-death penalty activists who have fought bravely to try to prevent the executions of seven people in Japan on the same day, on 6 July.
The World Coalition calls on Japanese authorities to immediately stop all executions and to respect its obligations under international law.
The World Coalition opposes the death penalty in all circumstances because:
– It is irrevocable. No justice system is safe from judicial error and innocent people are likely to be sentenced to death.
– It is inefficient and does not keep society safe. It has never been conclusively shown that the death penalty deters crime effectively than other punishments.
– It is unfair. The death penalty is discriminatory and is often used disproportionately against people who are poor, people with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities, and members of racial and ethnic minority groups. In some places, the imposition of the death penalty is used to target particular groups based on sexual orientation, gender identity, political opinion, or religion.
– Not all murder victims’ families want the death penalty. A large and growing number of victims’ families worldwide reject the death penalty and are speaking out against it, saying it does not bring back or honor their murdered family member, does not heal the pain of the murder, and violates their ethical and religious beliefs.
– It creates more pain. Particularly for the relatives of the person sentenced to death who will be subjected to the violence of forced mourning.
– It is inhuman, cruel, and degrading. Conditions on death row and the anguish of facing execution inflict extreme psychological suffering, and execution is a physical and mental assault.
– It is applied overwhelmingly in violation of international standards. It breaches the principles of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that everyone has the right to life.
– It is counterproductive. By establishing the killing of a human being as a legal solution, the death penalty promotes the idea of murder more than it fights against it.
The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty is an alliance of more than 150 NGOs, bar associations, local authorities and unions. The aim of the World Coalition is to strengthen the international dimension of the fight against the death penalty. Its ultimate objective is to obtain the universal abolition of the death penalty. The World Coalition is striving to achieve these aims by supporting its member organisations, local, national and regional abolitionist forces and by coordinating the international advocacy towards worlwide abolition of the death penalty. The World Coalition has also made 10 October the World Day Against the Death Penalty. In 3 months now, it will focus on living conditions on death row. More information: www.worldcoalition.org
Categories
Japan
