Worrying Data
Volker Turk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, stated: "My office has recorded a substantial increase in the number of executions in 2025, particularly for crimes that do not meet the criteria of 'most serious crimes' under international law. Executions of individuals convicted for offenses committed in childhood continue to occur under conditions of high secrecy."The main reason for the global rise in executions is the increase in executions for drug-related offenses that do not result in intentional loss of life.
Turk added: "This not only contradicts international law but is also ineffective as a method of combating crime."
Encouraging Initiatives
Nevertheless, 2025 also marked some positive steps taken by a number of states, as mentioned in the UN press release. Vietnam reduced the number of crimes punishable by death. Pakistan removed two non-violent crimes from the list, although 29 articles still remain in force. Zimbabwe abolished the death penalty for non-serious crimes on December 31, 2024. Kenya began reviewing its death penalty legislation, and in Malaysia, the review process has reduced the number of convicted individuals to over a thousand.Call for Abolition of the Death Penalty
Turk emphasized: "The death penalty is not an effective means of combating crime and can lead to the execution of innocent people. In practice, the death penalty is often applied arbitrarily and with discriminatory motives, violating fundamental principles of equality before the law."Illustration on the main page: Unsplash / A. Ross. Prison in Iran.
