Concerning Information
Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated that his office is witnessing a troubling rise in executions, especially for crimes that do not fall under the category of "most serious crimes" under international law. Executions have also been recorded for individuals convicted of crimes committed in childhood, and information about the execution of death sentences often remains undisclosed.The primary reason for the global increase in executions is the rise in death sentences related to drug offenses, which do not involve intentional taking of life.
"This not only contradicts international law but is also ineffective in deterring crime," Turk added.
Encouraging Actions
Despite negative trends, several countries made positive steps in 2025, as reported in a UN press release. Vietnam reduced the number of crimes punishable by death. Pakistan removed two non-violent crimes from the list of capital offenses, leaving 29 articles. Zimbabwe abolished the death penalty for crimes not classified as particularly serious on December 31, 2024, and Kenya began reviewing its death penalty legislation. In Malaysia, a review of sentences allowed for a reduction of more than a thousand individuals sentenced to death.Calls for Abolition of the Death Penalty
Turk emphasized that "the death penalty is not an effective means of combating crime and can lead to the execution of the innocent. In practice, this punishment is often applied arbitrarily and with discriminatory consequences, violating fundamental principles of equality before the law."Illustrative photo: Unsplash / A. Ross. Prison in Iran.
