Capital Punishment should be abolish - Essay Example

Intended killing, perpetrated either by an individual, or by law voted from the is abominable. Capital punishment is a lawful way to impose death to redeem the society's desire for justice. Since ancient times wrongdoers were punished by severe variety of methods from being hit by stones, burnt at the stake, to guillotined. Amnesty international is the most famous organization which fights for abolition of the capital punishment. According to Amnesty International (2009) "the death penalty is the ultimate denial of human rights (par.1)." This is cruel and inhumane way of showing justice and it violates all the rights postulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Capital punishment is exercised on mentally ill individuals, it also causes emotional suffering for their families and is applied without taking into consideration the convict's case and situation. Thus, death penalty should be abolished. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) says: No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (Article 5)." So how can we explain that each year death penalty is performed throughout the world not observing the individual human rights Moreover, "Everyone has the right to recognition everywhere as a person before the law (Article 6).

" Does capital punishment treat offenders as human beings Rather not, I reckon. Instead, the state chooses to punish the villain citizen by killing him. One of the incontrovertible arguments against the capital punishment is that criminals are also real, human beings like us, who have their lives and families. Many of the serial killers have deep psychological problems and instead of being killed should be put into mental institutions and asylums. We have to wisely consider how we will look at criminals, especially murderers - as evil or sick.

This is another very important issue and it seems that society hardly ever reacts reasonably on this. Is it justifiable to punish genuinely mentally ill I think that governors, state administration, social workers and psychiatrists have all mixed feelings and if the question about death penalty is put this way, they will not accept that the accused person should be held responsible for his actions. The relatives of the criminal are also involved in the process. They are going through the pain, fear and sense of loss, evoking feelings of hatred towards the inhumane manner that their family member is treated.

Regardless of the method of death, capital punishment in any of its forms is terrifying, not only for the criminal but for the public as well. We have watched many movie where public hanging was generally enjoyed by the people from 17th and 18th century. However, I believe that the death penalty removes the individual's humanity and turns society into helpless observer. In an article Amnesty International (2009) investigates a case of two 18 girls convicted of drug trafficking. They were hanged in Singapore in 1995 only being 18 at the time of their offence.

Such shocking events should not be allowed in the future.Amnesty International (2009) published a report quoting figures about the number of sentenced people in 2008. They recorded that at least 2390 people were execute regardless of the nature of the crime, the offender's situation or the method used by the state. Another 8864 were sentenced to death during the same year. We can only imagine who many of these people were up to 20 years-old, and how a unique human life disappeared wasted by the cruelty of the capital punishment.

Works Cited:Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948. 10.Nov.2009 Amnesty International, Abolish the death penalty, 2009, 10. Nov.2009