Death penalty report 2012

Amnesty's annual report on the global use of the death penalty. Although the global trend towards abolition remained strong, 2012 saw a disappointing resumption of executions in a number of countries, notably Gambia, India, Japan and Pakistan (ACT 50/001/2013).

Despite some negative developments, the use of the death penalty in 2012 overall confirmed the global trend towards abolition.

The USA was the only country in the Americas to have carried out executions in 2012. However, just nine states in the USA carried out executions in 2012, compared to 13 in 2011. Connecticut became the 17th abolitionist US state.

Despite setbacks in the Asia-Pacific region – including the resumption of executions in India and Pakistan – Viet Nam did not carry out death sentences and Singapore observed a moratorium on executions while considering amendments to its death penalty laws. In sub-Saharan Africa, further progress was visible. The government of Ghana plans to abolish the death penalty in the new Constitution. There are no more prisoners on death row in Sierra Leone.

Belarus continued to be the only country in Europe and central Asia to carry out executions. Legislation to remove the death penalty completely came into effect in Latvia in January, making it the 97th country abolitionist for all crimes worldwide.

In December the UN General Assembly adopted the fourth resolution on a moratorium on the use of the death penalty, with 111 Member States voting in favour.

This report analyzes some of the key developments in the application of the death penalty in 2012, presenting figures gathered by Amnesty International on the number of death sentences handed down and executions carried out during the year.

Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception, regardless of the nature or circumstances of the crime; guilt, innocence or other characteristics of the individual; or the method used by the state to carry out the execution