As shown graphically in the print edition of today's Tribune de Genève, and as also noted in the article in today's online edition, 90 per cent of the world's executions occur in five countries: China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United States and Pakistan, in that order. IMO, it is not enlightened company for the United States to be in.
China and Iran are, by far, the leaders in this very dubious category; Saudi Arabia's numbers are in triple digits; and the figures for the United States show that 52 executions were carried out in 2009. By way of contrast, the death penalty has been abolished throughout the European Union, Canada, Mexico, most of Latin America, South Africa, Australia and several countries in South America, among others. While the death penalty is in force in Russia, the great Cold War enemy of the United States, no execution has taken place there within the last ten years.
To be sure, there are several states in the United States that no longer have a death penalty, or enforce it if they still have one. Most of those states are in the Northeast and Upper Midwest regions. They are also generally areas with large population centers, so lack of a death penalty there does not seem to be adding to the criminality generally. It is certainly not the entire United States that should be tarred with this tawdry brush. But it does not speak well for how we conduct ourselves in a democracy, especially in a democracy where life is purportedly valued.
The largest number of executions (24) in 2009 can be attributed to the state of Texas. I was born and raised in the state of Montana, although I have not lived in that state since 1980. The death penalty is still in force there, although only two individuals have been executed since 1976. According to the latest statistics that I can find for that state, there are four individuals on death row there. All of them are white. My US residence is currently in Maryland, where five individuals have been executed since 1976. According to the Maryland statistics, there are currently nine persons on death row: six are black and three are white. By contrast, the statistics for the state of Texas show that 357 persons have been put to death since 1976 and 413 are currently on death row. The majority of those on death row are black and other minority group members.
Today's Tribune article contained an interview with Arnaud Gaillard, the general coordinator for the Congress. When asked why the Congress was taking pace in Geneva rather than in an area of the world where the death penalty actually exists, M. Gaillard answered that the meeting is being held here in part because Micheline Calmy-Rey, the Swiss Foreign Minister, had proposed in 2007, while she was President of Switzerland, that it be held here. Considering that Geneva is also where the Human Rights Council and other international organizations are headquartered, it seems a logical place to meet in order to consolidate and coordinate international efforts to have the death penalty abolished worldwide.
M. Gaillard also is optimistic about prospects for abolition of the death penalty, citing the progress that has been made in the past 25 years as an example. I, for one, sincerely hope that his optimism is justified.
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