Category: Africa/Asia

Abolitionists have welcomed data that show an increasing number of countries are taking the death penalty off their statute books. A three-day World Congress Against the Death Penalty in Geneva was told that roughly four countries a year, especially in Africa and Central Asia, have done away with the death penalty recently. A South Korean court ruled the death penalty as constitutional, although there has not been an execution for 12 years. Many others are taking steps to restrict it, the international lay Catholic association, the Sant’Egidio Community, vigorous campaigners against the death penalty, told the Conference.