Live and let live

On 10 October 2008, World Day Against the Death Penalty, the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty (WCADP) calls on all citizens around the world to take action to end executions in Asia.

Every year on 10 October, citizens, national and international institutions and NGOs respond to the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty’s appeal and rally to oppose the death penalty. This year, the Coalition has decided to focus on Asia. According to the Coalition’s website, a recent study estimates that 85 to 95% of all executions take place in Asia. While 27 Asian countries have abolished the death penalty in law or in practice, 14 countries continue to carry out executions.

For the 6th World Day Against the Death Penalty, the WCADP has chosen to focus on six of these 14 for an appeal: India, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Pakistan and Vietnam. The Coalition calls on the Japanese government to end secrecy surrounding the death row inmates and the application of the death penalty, demand that the Pakistani government guarantees their citizens the right to a fair trial, and urges the Vietnamese president to reduce the number of offenses punishable by death. The WCADP campaign also calls on the governments of India, South Korea and Taiwan to declare moratoria on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty.

Even if you do not read this on the World Day Against the Death Penalty, please take the time to sign the petition. It might very well save qute a few lives.