On World Day Against the Death Penalty, we reaffirm the UK’s strong opposition to the death penalty in all circumstances.
It is over fifty years since the UK government abolished the death penalty. We believe its use undermines human dignity, that there is no conclusive evidence of its deterrent value, and that any miscarriage of justice leading to its imposition is irreparable.
More than 140 members of the United Nations have renounced capital punishment in law or practice. The death penalty is steadily becoming the exception rather than the norm.
We urge all states that retain the death penalty to move towards abolition. We will continue to work through our diplomatic network and with international experts to support those striving for reform of the death penalty and to make the case to those only at the beginning of that journey.
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