United Nations: Death penalty almost abolished

The majority of UN members no longer practise capital punishment, the organisation said on Monday.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said around 140 of the body's 192 member states had abolished capital punishment either formally or in practice.

Pillay's remarks came on the 20th anniversary of a UN treaty, ratified by 72 countries, that aims to bring an end to the death penalty.

"In the 20 years since it (the treaty) was adopted, the number of formally abolitionist states has almost tripled, and where there was once a majority of states that wanted to keep the death penalty, they are now in the minority," Pillay said.

"In all, around 140 states are believed to have now abolished the death penalty either formally, or in practice."

Pillay said the abolition of capital punishment was a difficult process for many societies and often could only come about after a national debate.

"Until they reach that point, I urge those states still employing the death penalty to place a formal moratorium on its use," she said.

Russia's constitutional court banned the use of capital punishment in November, 10 years after imposing a moratorium on executions.

According to human rights campaign group Amnesty International, 2 390 people were executed in 25 states in 2008, with 93% of executions coming in just 5 countries: China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the US.

Source: SAPA, December 16, 2009

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