CAPITAL PUNISHMENTCAPITAL PUNISHMENTUN DeclarationsUN Declarations

What is the UN?What is the UN?

The The United NationsUnited Nations ( (UNUN) is an international ) is an international organization whose stated aims are :organization whose stated aims are :

facilitating cooperation in international law,facilitating cooperation in international law,

international security, international security,

economic development, economic development,

social progress, social progress,

human rights, human rights,

the achieving of world peace. the achieving of world peace.

The UN was founded in 1945 after World War II The UN was founded in 1945 after World War II to replace the League of Nations, to stop wars to replace the League of Nations, to stop wars between countries, and to provide a platform for between countries, and to provide a platform for dialogue.dialogue.

There are currently 193 member states, including There are currently 193 member states, including nearly every sovereign state in the world. From its nearly every sovereign state in the world. From its offices around the world, the UN and its specialized offices around the world, the UN and its specialized agencies decide on substantive and administrative agencies decide on substantive and administrative issues in regular meetings held throughout the issues in regular meetings held throughout the year. year. (Kosovo, Taiwan and the Vatican City are not members)(Kosovo, Taiwan and the Vatican City are not members)

What is the UN Declaration?What is the UN Declaration?

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations General Assembly (10 December 1948 at the Palais de Chaillot,

Paris).

The The Guinness Book of RecordsGuinness Book of Records describes the UDHR as the "Most describes the UDHR as the "Most

Translated Document" in the world. Translated Document" in the world.

Why did it come about?Why did it come about?

The Declaration arose directly from the The Declaration arose directly from the experience of the Second World War and experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are rights to which all human beings are entitled. entitled.

It consists of 30 articles which have been It consists of 30 articles which have been elaborated in subsequent international elaborated in subsequent international treaties, regional human rights treaties, regional human rights instruments, national constitutions and instruments, national constitutions and laws. laws.

Which are the relevant UN Which are the relevant UN Declarations when thinking about Declarations when thinking about

Capital Punishment?Capital Punishment?

There are 30 Declarations in the UN There are 30 Declarations in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

For the purpose of our course we will For the purpose of our course we will need to look at 3 in particular: Articles 1, need to look at 3 in particular: Articles 1, 3 and 5.3 and 5.

Article 1Article 1

All human beings are born free All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. of brotherhood. CP takes away dignity.CP takes away dignity.

Article 3Article 3

Everyone has the right Everyone has the right to life, liberty and to life, liberty and security of person. security of person.

CP takes away lifeCP takes away life

Article 5Article 5

No one shall be subjected to No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or degrading treatment or punishment. punishment. CP could be considered all of CP could be considered all of the above. (process of the above. (process of appeals, length of time on appeals, length of time on death row etc)death row etc)

Think about it.Think about it.

To what extent can the To what extent can the UN’s UDHR help us if UN’s UDHR help us if we are thinking about we are thinking about Capital Punishment?Capital Punishment?

Capital PunishmentCapital Punishment

We can Analyse and Evaluate We can Analyse and Evaluate the the strengths and weaknesses of other strengths and weaknesses of other viewpoints.viewpoints.

E.g.E.g.

Is it degrading, cruel, inhumaneIs it degrading, cruel, inhumane

The moral implicationsThe moral implications

Dignity?Dignity?