|  1 March 2011 -- This day marks the occasion in 1847 when the U.S. state of Michigan became the first English-speaking territory in the world to abolish capital punishment. The death penalty is a violation of human rights, as stated in Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
In 2009, the last year for which worldwide data is available, there were at least 714 known executions in 18 countries. This figure does not include executions in China, which were estimated to be in the thousands. China, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the United States were the five countries who carried out the most executions.
International law related to capital punishment is evolving. There is currently only one universal treaty banning executions and aiming for the total abolition of the death penalty: The Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The Protocol, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989, requires states that have ratified it to renounce definitely the use of the death penalty. As of February 2011, it has been ratified by 73 states and signed by 35 others. In December 2010, the General Assembly passed its third resolution calling upon all countries to establish a moratorium on the death penalty.
Sources: Amnesty International, World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, UN Treaty Collection
Selected learning materials
Death Penalty Curricula for High School
This curriculum addresses history of the death penalty, arguments for and against, court cases on the death penalty and additional resources. The site includes two sample units plans for teachers. Each of the units involves an extensive amount of group work, simulations, persuasive and individual essay writing, and class participation.
International standards on the death penalty
This document gives extracts of international and regional instruments (treaties, declarations) relevant to the abolition or restriction of the death penalty, arranged by subject. Among other things, the instruments set forth safeguards and restrictions on the death penalty. The appendix of this document includes the texts of the relevant sections of the instruments.
The Death Penalty in the OSCE Area
This yearly review prepared by the Human Rights Section of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) details international standards on the death penalty and the use of capital punishment by OSCE states.
International treaties abolishing the death penalty:
- Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Aiming at the Abolition of the Death Penalty (1989)
- Protocol No. 6 to the European Convention on Human Rights (1983)
- Protocol No. 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights (2002)
- Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights to Abolish the Death Penalty (1990)
Useful links
Amnesty International: Abolish the Death Penalty
Amnesty International-USA: Death Penalty & Capital Punishment
Council of Europe Theme File on the Death Penalty
Death Penalty Information Center (USA)
National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (USA)
World Coalition Against the Death Penalty
Links to organisations and resources on the death penalty
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