Most countries around the world have **abolished** the death penalty; meaning they *used* to have it, but have banned it, with bans generally coming into force from the 1970s-1990s. These days even countries which do allow a death penalty rarely use it.
When people discuss the pros and cons of the death penalty today, they generally argue in absolutist terms, e.g.: the risk of executing innocents, that the state shouldn’t kill its own citizens, lifetime incarceration is worse than the release of death etc. But clearly historical societies felt the death penalty *was* appropriate. So what changed in the mid-to-late 20th century to make countries favour abolishment?
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Some countries abolish the death penalty because they think it is wrong or ineffective. Some reasons why countries abolish the death penalty are:
* It is irreversible and can kill innocent people. Sometimes, people who are sentenced to death are later found to be innocent or wrongly convicted. There is no way to undo the mistake or compensate them for their suffering. For example, in the USA, since 1973, at least 185 people have been exonerated from death row.
* It violates human rights and dignity. Many people believe that every human being has the right to life and the right to be free from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. These rights are protected by international treaties and declarations, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The death penalty goes against these rights because it takes away someone’s life and causes them pain and fear.
* It does not reduce crime or violence. There is no clear evidence that the death penalty deters crime or violence more than other punishments, such as life imprisonment. Some studies have even suggested that the death penalty may increase violence by creating a culture of revenge and brutality. For example, in Canada, after abolishing the death penalty in 1976, the homicide rate declined by 44% by 2003.
* It is unfair and discriminatory. The death penalty is often applied in an arbitrary and biased way, depending on factors such as race, ethnicity, religion, gender, social class, or political opinion. The death penalty also depends on the quality of legal representation, which is often poor or inadequate for poor or marginalized people. For example, in Iran, ethnic minorities such as Kurds and Baluchis face a higher risk of execution than others.
* It is brutal and inhumane. The death penalty involves killing someone in a deliberate and cold-blooded way. The methods of execution can cause severe physical and psychological suffering to the person being executed and to those who witness it. The death penalty also affects the families and friends of both the victim and the offender, who may experience trauma, grief, or guilt.
**How did the death penalty change over time?**
In medieval Europe, the death penalty was influenced by Christianity and feudalism. The church supported the death penalty as a way of protecting society from evil and maintaining God’s justice. The feudal lords used the death penalty as a way of asserting their authority and power over their subjects. The methods of execution were often public and spectacular, such as burning at the stake, beheading, or drawing and quartering.
In the modern era, the death penalty was influenced by the Enlightenment and the human rights movements. The Enlightenment thinkers challenged the traditional views of the death penalty and argued for its reform or abolition. They criticized the death penalty as irrational, barbaric, and ineffective. They also advocated for the rights of individuals and the limits of state power. The human rights movements campaigned for the abolition of the death penalty as a violation of human dignity and equality. They also exposed the flaws and abuses of the death penalty system, such as wrongful convictions, discrimination, and torture.
The abolition of the death penalty started in the 18th century in some European countries, such as Portugal (1867) or Italy (1889). The abolition movement gained momentum in the 20th century, especially after World War II and the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. The abolition movement also spread to other regions of the world, such as Latin America, Africa, and Asia. The abolition movement faced challenges and setbacks in some countries, such as the USA, China, or Iran, where the death penalty is still widely used.
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