The Pacific is only one of two regions in the world that did not carry out any executions in 2009, Amnesty International revealed today as it launched its worldwide annual overview of the death penalty.
The report, Death Sentences and Executions in 2009, documents at least 714 people executed in 18 countries and at least 2001 sentenced to death in 56 countries last year.
The report also shows countries that still carry out executions are the exception rather than the rule, with more than two-thirds of countries having now abolished the death penalty in law or practice.
Although no executions took place in Europe in 2009, two people were put to death by the state in Belarus earlier this month, leaving the Pacific as the only region that has not used the death penalty in the last decade.
"We are currently witnessing a global trend towards abolishing the death penalty, and we applaud the Pacific region paving the way to a death penalty free world," says Apolosi Bose, Amnesty International's Pacific Researcher.
"But although no executions took place, there is still work to be done as four Pacific countries retain the death penalty in their laws. We are calling on them to take it off their books completely," says Bose.
Papua New Guinea (PNG), Nauru and Tonga are abolitionist in practice, while Fiji is abolitionist for ordinary crimes only. All other Pacific nations are abolitionist for all crimes - their laws do not provide for the death penalty for any crime.
"We are also urging Fiji, PNG, Solomon Islands and Tonga to show an international commitment to opposing the death penalty by supporting the United Nations resolution calling for a global moratorium on the death penalty later this year," adds Bose.
The first resolution was first adopted in December 2007 by an overwhelming majority of 104 UN member states. Although not legally binding, it carries considerable moral and political weight, and provides an opportunity for these countries to express to the global community their abhorrence of the death penalty.
The death penalty is the ultimate cruel and inhuman punishment which Amnesty International is opposed to in all cases, without exception.
"By explicitly prohibiting the use of executions, Pacific countries can show the world they have rejected this fundamental breach of human rights," says Bose.
Mediacom 03-30-10
