UN Rights Chief Condemns Sharp Increase in Executions

The UN’s top human rights official has strongly condemned the rising number of executions worldwide, calling the death penalty incompatible with human dignity and the right to life.

Death Penalty Has “No Place” in Modern Society

During a discussion with Member States about the role of judicial systems in advancing human rights, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk emphasized that the death penalty should not exist in the 21st century. While some countries argue that capital punishment falls under their national sovereignty, Türk asserted that it contradicts fundamental human rights.

He highlighted that the most active executioners in recent years included Iran, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, and the United States.

A Sharp Increase in Executions

According to UN data, at least 1,153 executions were carried out across 16 countries in 2023—a 31% rise from 2022 and the highest number recorded in the past eight years.

“This follows a 53% increase in executions between 2021 and 2022,” Türk explained. He also pointed out that the figures exclude China, where the lack of transparency prevents an accurate assessment of the use of capital punishment.

“I urge the Chinese authorities to change this policy and join the global movement toward abolition,” he said.

Drug-Related Executions on the Rise

Although international human rights law states that the death penalty should only be applied to the “most serious crimes,” executions for drug-related offenses have surged, now accounting for more than 40% of all recorded executions—the highest percentage since 2016.

“Nearly all of these executions occurred in Iran,” Türk noted.

However, despite the general rise in executions, there has been progress as more nations are moving toward abolition.

Global South Leading the Way on Abolition

A growing number of countries, particularly in the Global South, are rejecting the death penalty. Currently, 113 nations have abolished capital punishment altogether.

A significant recent example is Zimbabwe, where President Emmerson Mnangagwa signed a law banning the death penalty at the end of 2024. Zimbabwe joins 26 other African countries in completely abolishing executions.

Judicial reform has played a key role in this positive trend. Countries like Malawi and Malaysia have adopted policies that reduce the number of death sentences by commuting them to lesser punishments. Türk emphasized the importance of such reforms in ensuring fair trials and preventing wrongful convictions.

He urged all nations to work toward the complete abolition of the death penalty, support moratoriums on executions, and ensure that capital punishment is reserved only for the most serious crimes if it continues to be applied.

Zimbabwe’s Death Penalty History

During the UN session, Zimbabwe’s Attorney General, Virginia Mabiza, explained how the country’s death penalty evolved. Originally introduced by colonial authorities in the 18th century, the punishment remained in place even after Zimbabwe gained independence in 1980.

Public support for capital punishment was strong in 1999, with 56% of the population favoring its continuation. Between 1980 and 2005, 105 executions were carried out. However, since then, Zimbabwe has not carried out any further executions, largely due to policy changes and judicial discretion.

Over time, the scope of capital punishment in Zimbabwe narrowed considerably. Initially applied to a wide range of crimes—including conspiracy and attempted robbery—by 2013, it was limited to murder cases only. This aligned with a UN General Assembly resolution calling for a reduction in the number of offenses eligible for the death penalty.

Mabiza also referenced several Supreme Court rulings in Harare that deemed the death penalty a violation of human rights. As a result, courts have frequently commuted death sentences to life imprisonment.

Moving Toward a World Without the Death Penalty

While the number of executions continues to rise in some regions, the global trend is shifting toward abolition. The UN and human rights advocates continue to call for reforms, urging countries to move away from this form of punishment and uphold the dignity and right to life of all individuals.