"The death penalty is no more effective a deterrent than life imprisonment... It is also evident that the burden of capital punishment falls upon the poor, the ignorant and the underprivileged members of society." - United
States Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Each year since 1976, three more countries a year have added their names
to the list of countries that have abolished the death penalty. A majority
of nations have ended capital punishment in law or practice.
The United Nations Human Rights Commission has passed a resolution calling
for all nations that continue to execute to restrict the number of offenses
for which the death penalty may be imposed and to suspend executions with
a view toward abolishing the death penalty.
While most nations have abolished the death penalty in law or practice,
the U .S. continues to join a handful of nations with the highest numbers
of executions. The U.S. has executed over 800 people since 1976, and as
of December 2002, over 3,700 men and women were on death rows across the
country.
No More Killing. Abolish the Death Penalty.
AmnestyUSA - About the Death
Penalty