World Day Against the Death Penalty

Our series of posts from October 3rd's mental illness and the death penalty event will continue next week. Today, we want to wish everyone a happy World Day Against the Death Penalty. Take a look at this impressive list of actions and events taking place around the world today.

This year, attention is especially focused on ending executions in Asian countries. Our colleagues in the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty explain:

Responding to the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty's appeal, citizens, national and international institutions and NGOs rally together every year on 10 October to oppose the use of the death penalty and to recall that its abolition is a universal struggle.

This year, they have decided to turn their eyes on Asia. According to Amnesty International, at least 664 executions have been reported in Asia in 2007. The real figures are believed to be much higher. A recent study by Franklin Zimring and David Johnson estimates that 85 to 95% of the world's executions take place in Asia.

A growing number of countries in the region, however, have committed to the abolition of the death penalty. This Sixth World Day is an opportunity to publicly oppose the use of this inhuman, cruel and degrading punishment and to support those in the Asian region who are fighting for its abolition.