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This year’s theme emphasises the far-reaching, and often indirect, social risks associated with the death penalty. Authorities often justify the existence or, worryingly, the expansion, of capital offences as a means of making communities safer and more secure. However, it is not that simple: definitions and causes of human security are highly disputed. When determining ‘who’ and ‘what’ constitute a threat to human security, one should consider deeper social and political dynamics. The death penalty is often cited by authorities as having a deterrent effect: if a person faces a threat of punishment for committing an act, that person will refrain from committing the act. This argument oversimplifies the human psyche. It assumes that decisions to commit crimes arise from rational choice and informed decision-making. Yet, those committing crimes often rely on personalised perceptions of certainty and severity about being caught and punished. These perceptions often diverge substantially from reality. Read our full statement on our website. You can learn more about this year’s World Day theme from the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty’s helpful resources. And please spread the word using #NoDeathPenalty to show your support for a world without capital punishment.
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