Executions Decline Worldwide In 2018 But Rise In US, Japan, Belarus - Rights Group

The number of executions around the world fell dramatically in 2018 but rose in the United States, Japan and Belarus, Amnesty International Secretary General Kumi Naidoo announced as the rights group unveiled a new report at a United Nations press conference on Tuesday

UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 10th April, 2019) The number of executions around the world fell dramatically in 2018 but rose in the United States, Japan and Belarus, Amnesty International Secretary General Kumi Naidoo announced as the rights group unveiled a new report at a United Nations press conference on Tuesday.

"The number of known executions dropped by over 30 percent and reached the lowest figure Amnesty International has reported in the past decade. This reflected a significant reduction in some of the world's lead executing countries, such as Iran, Iraq, Pakistan and Somalia," said the report, entitled "Death Sentences and Executions 2018.

However, several countries, including the United States, Belarus, Japan, Singapore and South Sudan reported increases in the number of executions, the report noted.

"The dramatic global fall in executions proves that even the most unlikely countries are starting to change their ways .

.. Despite regressive steps from some, the number of executions carried out by several of the worst perpetrators has fallen significantly," Naidoo said.

But the number of executions carried out in the United States in 2018 increased to 25 from 23 in 2017, the report noted. The US state of Texas nearly doubled its number of executions from seven in 2017 to 13 in 2018, accounting for just over half of the US national total, after fewer stays of executions were issued by the state Supreme Court, the report noted.

Similarly, the number of executions in doubled in Belarus and South Sudan, reaching four and seven respectively, the report said.

Both Singapore and Japan, meanwhile, reported their highest execution totals in over a decade, or 13 and 15 respectively, the report added.