GIS H ET PENALTY DEATH THE AGAINST coalition WORLD RAPPORT 2011 Neuvième édition JOURNÉE MONDIALE CONTRE LA PEINE DE MORT GIS H ET PENALTY DEATH THE AGAINST coalition WORLD 10/10/11 10/10/11 Penalty Death the Against Report Day World Rapport de la journée mondiale contre la peine de mort de peine la journéela de Rapport contre mondiale 10/10/11 COALITION mondiale CONTRE LA PEINE DE MORT THE DEATH PENALTY DEATH THE WORLD DAY AGAISNT AGAISNT DAY WORLD Ninth edition Ninth REPORT 2011 REPORT COALITION mondiale CONTRE LA PEINE DE MORT WORLD DAY AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY THE INHUMANITY OF THE DEATH PENALTY 10.10.11 Ninth World Day WORLD COALITION AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY www.worldcoalition.org [TABLE OF CONTENT] THE WORLD COALITION AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY (WCADP) The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty (WCADP) was created in 2002 to reinforce the international dimension of the fight against the death penalty. International Jurisprudence Regarding It brings together 126 NGOs, bar associations, trade unions and public bodies [1] A World Day on the Inhumanity the Death Penalty and Cruel, that are active across the world to support the abolition of the death penalty. Inhuman or Degrading Treatment of the Death Penalty 5 The World Coalition endeavours to strengthen international action or Punishment ........................................ 22 • The Right to Be Free from Cruel, in the fight against the death penalty, lead and coordinate international action The Previous World Days Against Inhuman or Degrading Treatment (particularly lobbying), bring together new abolitionists and the Death Penalty ..................................... 6 or Punishment ....................................... 23 • History ..................................................... 6 increase its influence in countries where capital punishment • Methods of Execution............................ 24 • Impact ..................................................... 6 still exists as part of national legislation. • Death Row Conditions........................... 26 • Families of the Persons It helps create national and regional coalitions 10/10/11 - 10 Reasons to End the Death Penalty ..................................... 7 Sentenced to Death ............................... 29 and organizing worldwide events. The Death Penalty around In 2003, the World Coalit ion established the World: 2011 Facts and Figures ........... 8 [2] the World Day Against the Death Penalty on 10 October. • Abolitionist and Non-Abolitionist The World Coalition’s This event is followed all over the world Countries................................................. 8 Mobilisation Role 31 • Death Sentences and Executions.............. 8 and especially in countries that continue to use the death penalty. th • International Instruments Supporting Growing Recognition of 10 October Abolition ............................................... 10 as the Official Day .................................. 32 • Mobilisation of International The 9th World Day: and Regional Human Rights The Inhumanity of the Death Penalty...... 11 Organisations......................................... 32 • There Is No Humane Way to Kill ............ 11 • Institutional Mobilisation in Retentionist Countries and the Role • Inhumane Conditions of the Eur opean Delegations.................. 35 on Death Row: ...................................... 12 • The Growing Mobilisation This document was produced with the financial support of the European Union, the Paris • Dehumanizing Process ........................... 13 Bar Association and the AFD. The content of this documen t is the sole responsibility of of Abolitionist States...............................36 Focus: Iran ................................... 14 the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty and should in no way be considered to Focus: Rwanda..............................37 reflect the position of the European Union, the Paris Bar Association or the AFD. Focus: Jamaica ............................. 16 Focus: Morocco............................ 18 Increased Mobilisation by Members Focus: Belarus .............................. 20 of the World Coalition............................ 38 World Coalition Against the Death Penalty Focus: India.................................. 21 Focus: the Role of Murder 3, rue Paul Vaillant Couturier, 92320 Châtillon – France Victims’ Families Tél. : + 33 1 57 63 03 57 Against the Death Penalty............ 40 [email protected] • Information and Mobilisation Tools ........ 42 www.worldcoalition.org © World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, 2011 [3] wOrLd dAy AgAINsT The deATh peNALTy 10.10.11 [ TABLE OF CONTENT] [1] A World Day on the Inhumanity of [3] [4] Initiatives by Region 45 Media coverage 59 the Death Penalty n Sub-Saharan Africa Press Review, Region by Region .............. 60 (95 INITIATIVES IN 23 COUNTRIES) ................... 47 New Media............................................. 62 Practical Worksheet 1 Working with Victims: a Guide Practical Worksheet 5 for Activists............................................... 49 How to Write a Press Release.................... 63 n The Americas (34 INITIATIVES IN 8 COUNTRIES) ..................... 50 [5] Follow-up to World Day 65 n Asia-Pacific (57 ACTIVITIES IN 12 COUNTRIES).................... 51 Abolition Moving Forward ...................... 66 Practical worksheet 2 How to Encourage the Participation Continuing Mobilisation ......................... 66 of the Public During your Conference....... 53 The 2012 World Day .............................. 66 n Europe (148 INITIATIVES IN 18 COUNTRIES) ................. 54 Practical worksheet 3 [6] Pedagogical Activity on the Different Methods of Executions ............................. 55 Annexes 67 [1] List of Initiatives................................. 68 n The Middle East and North Africa (20 INITIATIVES IN 6 COUNTRIES) ..................... 57 [2] Press Releases.................................... 86 Practical worksheet 4 [3] Press Review...................................... 98 An Efficient and Cheap Initiative: [4] Members of Viral Marketing by Word the World Coalition ......................... 109 of Mouth.................................................. 58 [5] Notes............................................... 117 Initiative organised by ACAT parakou in Benin for the 9th world day [4] [5] wOrLd dAy AgAINsT The deATh peNALTy wOrLd dAy AgAINsT The deATh peNALTy 10.10.11 10.10.11 on the death penalty at the 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly. 10.10.11 The Previous Then, in 2008, it was Asia’s turn, the continent that has the greatest number of 10 REASONS TO END THE DEATH PENALTY World Days executions in the world. The 2009 World Day was marked by the launch of an education 1. No state should have the power to takes a citizen’s life. Against the campaign: “Teaching Abolition." The World 2. It is irrevocable: no justice system is safe from judicial error and it is likely that Coalition also called for an end to juvenile innocent people will be sentenced to death. Death Penalty executions in the countries that still carry out such executions. Finally, the 2010 World Day 3. It is inefficient: it has never been shown that the death penalty deters crimes History aimed at strengthening the trend towards more effectively than other punishments. abolition in the United States of America. 4. It is unfair: the death penalty is discriminatory and is often used disproportionately In previous years, local initiatives were against the poor, the mentally ill, those from racial and ethnic minorities, or on launched across the world: the 2003 World Impact the basis of sexual orientation or religious beliefs. Day was celebrated in 63 countries with 188 initiatives, and the total initiatives reached In eight years, 10 October has become an 5. Not all murder victims’ families want the death penalty. A growing number more than 400 in 2006 and 2007. Since 2005, event that unifies the abolitionist movement of victims’ families worldwide are speaking out against the death penalty, saying a theme has been chosen to celebrate this and the impact of the events connected to it does not bring back or honor their murdered family member, does not heal the event in order to attract attention and it has been exponential. In 2007, World Day pain of the murder, and violates their ethical and religious beliefs. motivate initiatives across the world. demonstrated that the resolution for a 6. It creates more pain: the death penalty inflicts pain on the families of those moratorium on application of the death The first them e chosen was abolition of the on death row, on the families of those who have been executed and on death penalty was supported by civil society and that death penalty in Africa. In 2005, only 12 row wardens. demonstration contributed to the success of African nations had abolished the death the resolution. The 2008 World Day focused 7. It is inhuman, cruel and degrading: the dreadful conditions on death row inflict penalty, 21 maintained it and 20 had not on Asia and since then, most of the demands extreme psychological suffering and execution is a physical and mental assault. executed prisoners sentenced to death for of the abolitionist community have been more than ten years. 8. It is applied overwhelmingly in violation of international standards: it breaches heard: Vietnam and China have reduced the the principles of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states 2006 was devoted to failures of justice: number