The death penalty
Successes continued in AI’s global campaign for a world free of executions. In June, the Philippines became the 88th country to totally abolish the death penalty. This development was particularly welcome in the Asia-Pacific region where a disproportionately high proportion of the world’s executions take place.
In July, AI played a role in bringing together human rights groups, activists, lawyers and parliamentarians from 21 countries to form the Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN) as a united regional voice against the death penalty.
In Europe and Central Asia, after vigorous AI campaigning in recent years, Moldova amended its Constitution to formalize its complete abolition of the death penalty and ratified international treaties that require abolition.
Kyrgyzstan signed into law a new Constitution that no longer included, and therefore no longer authorized, death as a punishment.
In 2006 at least 1,544 people were executed in 25 countries worldwide.
At least 3,861 people were sentenced to death in 55 countries. The true numbers are believed to be considerably higher. By far the majority of executions – 90 per cent – were carried out in just five countries: China, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan and the USA.
Countries that executed people convicted of crimes committed while they were under 18 were Iran and Pakistan.
http://web.amnesty.org/pages/deathpenalty-index-eng