United Nations Human Rights Committee

"Our use of the death penalty also stands in stark contrast to the majority of nations that have abolished the death penalty in law or practice. Even Russia and South Africa -- nations that for years were symbols of egregious violations of basic human rights and liberties -- have seen the error of the use of the death penalty… The United Nations Commission on Human Rights has called for a worldwide moratorium on the use of the death penalty… The European Union denies membership in their alliance to those nations that use the death penalty." - Russ Feingold, U.S. Senator, Wisconsin

Just last month the United Nations Human Rights Committee, a panel consisting of 18 independent experts, reiterated its recommendation that the United States should urgently impose a moratorium on executions. Citing the 1996 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the panel stated that they are concerned by "studies according to which the death penalty may be imposed disproportionately on ethnic minorities as well as on low-income groups, a problem which does not seem to be fully acknowledged." The United States ratified the treaty in 1992 with a number of reservations, including provisions on the death penalty. The panel also urged the U.S. to limit the number of crimes that carry a penalty of death and to asses the extent to which death sentences are inflicted disproportionately on vulnerable populations.

The United States and Japan are the only democracies in the world that continue to use the death penalty. China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United States were responsible for 94 percent of all known executions in 2005.

posted by Sachin @ 3:48 PM