86 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN
EXECUTED THIS YEAR IN IRAN
AS OF FEBRUARY 3, 2011
1,200 PEOPLE HAVE
BEEN EXECUTED IN THE
USA SINCE 1977
THE DEATH PENALTY HAS
BEEN ABOLISHED IN OVER 2/3
OF ALL COUNTRIES
When Amnesty International was founded in 1961, only nine countries had abolished the death penalty for all crimes. In 2010, that number reached 96. The momentum for worldwide abolition is undeniable!
We are moving closer to a death-penalty free world.
Amnesty International has identified six countries of focus for the death penalty campaign in its anniversary year.
China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the USA all have strong support for the death penalty within their respective countries. We must, nonetheless, continue to speak out loudly and clearly.
In Belarus and Mongolia, a moratorium on the death penalty is becoming a tangible possibility and we believe that abolition is a distinct possibility in the coming months.
The worldwide abolition of the death penalty is possible. We must continue to pressure governments to recognize the death penalty as a human rights issue, and demand an end to executions.
More information on this topic is available at amnesty.ca
You can take action on this issue, and others, through the Social Media Action Centre. The Centre will release Virtual Events every two weeks throughout the year. Each Event will focus on one of SIX ANNIVERSARY CAMPAIGNS. If the current Virtual Event is not related to the Death Penalty, please check back – there will be other events throughout the year on this issue.
NOTE: Once you participate in one Virtual Event, you can then be notified
(by email) about all future events.
