International Law on Capital Punishment

Abstract

From a retentionist policy, most countries are now moving towards abolition of the death penalty. When the UN was formed in 1945, only 7 countries had abolished capital punishment. Through sustained efforts of International organizations such as the United Nations and Amnesty International, this number has risen to roughly 160 countries (de jure and de facto). In this research paper, I have endeavoured to trace back the steps taken to curb the use of the death penalty which is growingly being regarded as a gross violation of ‘right to life’ globally.