Of course, the death sentence is rising in different countries around the world. This is given against a range of serious criminal acts including murder, treason, rape and terrorism. Indeed, a few thousand are being executed each year around the world. Of course, death sentences are not given equally across regions and countries. It is given more in Asia. Among countries, according to available sources, China gives death sentences more than any other country. Among others, some Middle East countries such as Iran, Egypt, Iraq and Saudi Arabia give a significant portion of the death sentences in the world each year. It is given in some other countries too, though the number is fewer or unknown. But the death sentence is not common across nations. Indeed, many countries around the world have already canceled the execution as an option of punishment
But there are reasons that are also convincing to reduce the death sentence. Firstly, the death sentence will not bring back the person who is killed intentionally, though it can console the family members of the dead person. Secondly, the death penalty is not given to all who deserve it because of the discriminatory use of laws regarding death sentences. Of course, this may not be the case across countries, such a practice is there in many countries where the rule of law is less. Consequently, those who are given the death sentence also receive a discriminatory punishment. Finally, but no less significant, the avoidance of the death sentence, which is limited to only those who kill intentionally in some countries and which is increasingly being considered by some other countries to be canceled, can help many criminals correct themselves and do good for society.
A very pertinent aspect is that the death sentence could be avoided on many occasions, though it cannot be removed altogether because of the reasons noted above. Of course, the death sentence for some of the crimes, such as treason, are arguable depending on some conditions including the intention to exert more control by the state on dissent voices, though intentional killing stands out as a convincing reason for the death penalty. Moreover, the death sentence, which violates a very important right such as the right to life, does not reduce crimes always. Indeed, there are no significant differences in crime rates or murders in those counties or states where it is given as a punishment compared to those where it is not given, even if capital punishment is arguably rendered as the greatest deterrent to criminal acts. Of course, society also creates conditions that lead to heinous crimes.
No doubt, it is desired that such punishment needs to be reduced and different countries including those that give a considerable number of death sentences each year need to do a lot. Notably, such a punishment seems justified for intentional killing at least. But the number of crimes against the death penalty needs to be reduced. In this respect, the UNGA Death Penalty Moratorium Resolutions, adopted eight times (initially in 2007 and finally in 2020), that puts emphasis on the establishment of a moratorium with a goal of its abolition and the restriction of the number of offenses against which the death penalty is given can be taken into consideration. Some crime reduction measures including community policing and poverty reduction are also pertinent here.
