5. The death penalty is disappearing
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Stop the imminent executions in Indonesia
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While executions spiked in 2015, they were counterbalanced by a spate of abolitions. Four countries abolished the death penalty for all crimes – the highest number to do so in the space of one year for almost a decade. These developments are a clear indication that the trend towards abolition remains strong.
Today, 102 countries – half the world – have turned their backs on the death penalty for good.Those that continue to execute are a tiny minority standing against a wave of opposition.
There are countless arguments for and against the death penalty. In an imperfect world where we can never be sure we have ever got the "worst of the worst" is it ever justified to take a life?