ICDP) Review 2010–2012 26 MONTHS Design: Industry Branding 7 October 2010 – 31 December 2012
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Review International Commission against the Death Penalty (ICDP) Review 2010–2012 26 MONTHS Design: Industry Branding 7 October 2010 – 31 December 2012 © 2013 International Commission against the Death Penalty Secretariat of the International Commission against the Death Penalty 15 VISITS ICDP France, Gambia, Italy, Japan, Morocco (twice), Rue Rothschild 20 Rwanda, Spain (three times), Switzerland, 1202 Geneva 2010 Tajikistan, Tunisia, USA (California and New York) Switzerland www.icomdp.org Tel: + 41 22 908 44 22 14 MEMBERS Mr Giuliano Amato, Ms Louise Arbour, Mr Robert Badinter, Mr Mohammed Bedjaoui, Ms Ruth Dreifuss, Ms Michèle Duvivier Pierre-Louis, Ms Asma Jahangir, Ms Ioanna Kuçuradi, Ms Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Mr Rodolfo Mattarollo, Mr Federico Mayor, Mr Ibrahim Najjar, Mr Bill Richardson, Mr José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero 2 ABOLISHES 2012 Gabon (2010) and Latvia (2012) International Commission against the Death Penalty Review 2010 - 2012 1 2012 Contents Afghanistan Bangladesh Belarus Botswana China Gambia India 3 4-5 8-9 14 1 3+ 2 2000+ 9 1 Message from the President About ICDP Global concern for abolition Key facts, Who we are, What Summary of positive we do, How ICDP works, The developments in 2012 context in which we work Iran Iraq Japan North Korea Pakistan Palestinian Authority (Gaza) Saudi Arabia 314+ 129+ 7 6+ 1 6 79+ 10-11 14-17 20-23 Notable setbacks in 2012 What we accomplished Our Commissioners What we have accomplished since Commission members and ICDP we were established: our activities Secretariat, Summary Audit Report Somalia Sudan South Sudan Taiwan United Arab Emirates USA Yemen and achievements 2010–2012 6+ 19+ 5+ 6 1 43 28+ Countries and the amount of executions that were carried out in 2012. Source: Amnesty International report “Death Sentences and Executions 2012” International Commission against the Death Penalty Review 2010 - 2012 3 “The death penalty does not make the world a safer place. There exists Message from no conclusive evidence that it deters crime more effectively the President than other punishments. This report describes the International Commission against The most worrying fact about the Death Penalty, its role, its activities, its achievements and the death penalty, however, is the context in which it has been working since its creation the possibility of executing on 7 October 2010 until 31 December 2012. an innocent person. The global trend towards abolition of the death ICDP is an independent body composed of the Greater Caribbean, the Middle East and the penalty has gathered pace dramatically in recent 14 personalities of international prestige and USA. It will continue to strengthen its work so No matter how developed a justice years. Nearly 50 years ago only 16 countries had experience in human rights, and supported by that its activities influence and contribute to the abolished the death penalty for all crimes. Today, a diverse group of 16 countries from all world global movement that is working for the eventual system might be, it will always remain according to the United Nations (UN), some regions. ICDP opposes capital punishment abolition of capital punishment. susceptible to human failure and, 150 countries have rejected the death penalty in all situations, and urges the immediate or do not carry out executions. As recently as establishment of a universal moratorium on Once seen solely as a matter of criminal therefore, it runs the risk of committing December 2012, the UN General Assembly called executions as a step towards total abolition justice, states’ use of the death penalty is for a moratorium on executions with the aim of the death penalty. now an international concern and part of the irrevocable and irreparable damage.” of abolishing the death penalty. The call for mainstream human rights agenda. ICDP’s work repeal of capital punishment is no longer the Since its creation, ICDP has undertaken a should be seen as a contribution by influential Federico Mayor preoccupation of a few countries – there is now number of activities to support the abolition and respected voices of international standing President, International Commission against the Death Penalty an international movement working for its of capital punishment – including missions to towards creating a death penalty free world. global abolition. Japan, Tajikistan, Tunisia and the USA. A number of meetings have also been organized, such as Abolition of the death penalty is supported by a roundtable of experts to review challenges states from all regions in the world regardless to abolition, and a conference on the Greater of political system, religion, culture or tradition. Caribbean. Numerous letters and statements These nations have accepted that state killing is have been issued, in particular about individuals wrong and fails to deter crime. They recognize at imminent risk of execution. Working Federico Mayor that modern justice systems must protect the relationships have been established with the President of the International Commission public from crime but without the inherent African Commission on Human and Peoples’ against the Death Penalty risks of executing the innocent, and the cruelty Rights, the Council of Europe, the European of executions. Union, the UN, the UK All Party Parliamentary Group on the Abolition of the Death Penalty as But we must not forget that billions still live in well as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) countries which retain capital punishment and and academics working on the abolition of the thousands of prisoners continued to be executed death penalty. every year or remain under sentence of death. It is against this background that the International In the coming years, ICDP will build on these Commission against the Death Penalty (ICDP) experiences and expertise. It will focus attention was launched in Madrid in October 2010. on abolition of the death penalty in Africa, Asia, International Commission against the Death Penalty Review 2010 - 2012 5 Key facts about ICDP Who we are How ICDP works ICDP is an independent body composed of • Intervenes with high representatives About • It was founded in October 2010 in Madrid 14 high-profile Commissioners working for the and personalities in specific countries. to promote and support abolition of the total abolition of the death penalty. The ICDP, • Complements actions calling for repeal of death penalty. It was established as a an initiative of the government of Spain, is led capital punishment along with representatives result of an initiative of the government by its President, Federico Mayor. These eminent of intergovernmental organizations and NGOs. ICDP of Spain to campaign against the death individuals include former presidents, prime • Undertakes visits to countries to engage with penalty throughout the world. ministers, government ministers, senior United high-ranking officials. • It works to achieve abolition of the death Nations (UN) officials, a former US state governor, • Issues appeals and statements – in particular The death penalty violates the penalty and complements actions of the a former judge and president of the International where individuals are at imminent risk UN and other international and regional Court of Justice, a senior judge and a leading of execution. right to life – the most basic organizations, governments, civil society academic. It is supported by a diverse group • Organizes public events including discussion and NGOs that are working towards of 16 states. panels, conferences, side-events at international of all human rights – and the abolition of the death penalty. forums on various aspects of abolition of the right not to be subjected to • It is politically independent of These Commissioners represent all world regions death penalty. governments, allowing it to engage with – demonstrating that abolition of the death • Participates in conferences, seminars and cruel, inhuman or degrading a number of countries around the world penalty is a global concern and not the cause of campaigns to mobilize public opinion for treatment. It is frequently about their use of capital punishment. a particular region. They do not represent their abolition of the death penalty. • It is chaired by a President and meets country and they act with independence in their • Disseminates information by publishing reports used in an unfair, arbitrary twice a year to discuss strategies and decision-making. ICDP’s added value lies in the and presenting papers at international forums. plan its work, including country visits. importance of its members. Each Commissioner • Promotes intellectual and artistic works that and discriminatory way – • It is supported and funded by a has expertise in international law and human support abolition of the death penalty. sometimes after unfair legal geographically diverse group of 16 rights and is committed to the global abolition countries from all world regions that of capital punishment. Their experience and The context in which we work proceedings and even after are committed to the abolition of the knowledge enable them to address politically For many years, progress towards abolition of confessions extracted under death penalty. This Support Group sensitive issues and engage with senior officials capital punishment was slow and the cause had is composed of: Algeria, Argentina, from countries where the death penalty is still few champions. When the Universal Declaration torture or duress. Dominican Republic, France, Italy, used. Their knowledge, influence and broad of Human Rights was adopted in 1948 very few Kazakhstan, Mexico, Mongolia, Norway, geographical representation provide ICDP states had abolished the death penalty. In 1948 the Philippines, Portugal, South Africa, with a high profile in the international arena. abolition of the death penalty was the concern Spain, Switzerland, Togo and Turkey. of a small minority of states. Sixty-five years later • The Support Group carries out its What we do the situation is very different. According to the activities under the coordination of ICDP opposes the death penalty in all situations, UN some 150 out of the 193 Member States of the a rotating yearly presidency.