個別國家的死刑狀況資料上線開放查詢／Country-by-country death penalty data now available

個別國家的死刑狀況資料上線開放查詢

資料來源：WCADP （翻譯：林偉勝）

西北大學和世界反死刑聯盟攜手合作，設計了統計及法律資料庫，提供檢視世界90多個國家使用死刑的機會。

西北大學法學院國際人權中心（美國芝加哥）以及世界反死刑聯盟推出全新資料庫，記錄維持死刑制度國家的法律及實務資料。

此一資料庫將可幫助瞭解死刑制度運作實務，廢除死刑制度的可能性。

來自各國的研究員蒐集了90個國家以及2個領域的資料；資料庫收集了數據、死刑制度資訊、刑事程序、死刑犯生活狀況和政治發展等資料。

資料庫的網址為：www.deathpenaltyworldwide.org

寶貴的資源

資料庫公開提供大眾搜尋，提供政策制定者、律師、法院、社會運動者、學者及媒體搜尋死刑制度的運作資料。

西北大學法學院實務教授SandraBabcock表示：「我們發現，維持死刑的國家內部熱烈且嚴肅討論廢除死刑的意義。許多先前支持國家處決的政府鼓勵立法單位或其他部門認真考慮廢除死刑的意義，或者，至少縮小死刑的適用範圍。」

資料庫於2011年4月14日在歐洲委員會（上圖）亮相，也將在非洲人權和民族委員會（甘比亞）、聯合國人權理事會（日內瓦）以及世界反死刑聯盟大會（摩洛哥）等場合呈現。

Country-by-country death penalty data now available

A new statistic and legal database designed by Northwestern University in partnership with the World Coalition offers a unique view of the use of capital punishment in more than 90 states.

The Center for International Human Rights at Northwestern University School of Law (Chicago, USA) and the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty have launched an international database on the practice and laws of retentionist states.

This new and unique resource will enhance the general understanding of the application of the death penalty and prospects for abolition.

Data from 90 states and 2 territories have been compiled by an international team of researchers. The database includes statistics, information on penal laws, criminal procedure, death row conditions and political developments.

It is now available on line at www.deathpenaltyworldwide.org.

Invaluable resource

The data is publicly accessible and searchable, and will provide an invaluable resource for policymakers, lawyers, courts, activists, scholars and the media searching for information on the use of the death penalty.

“We found that in the vast majority of retentionist states, there is a lively and serious debate about the merits of abolition. Many governments that were previously committed to continuing a practice of state-sponsored executions have encouraged legislative committees or other bodies to consider the merits of abolishing the death penalty – or, at a minimum, to narrowing the scope of its application,” said Sandra Babcock, Clinical Professor at Northwestern University Law School.

The database was launched on 14 April 2011 at the Council of Europe (photo above) and will be presented at the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights in the Gambia, at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, and at the World Coalition's annual general meeting in Morocco.