Amnesty International Against the Death Penalty Essay

Amnesty International Against the Death Penalty The death penalty is enforced in more than 100 countries around the globe. Statistically, there have been 1,708 known executions in 35 of these 100 countries. I=m sure that the true figures are certainly higher. The most common methods of this controversial act include shooting, electrocution, lethal injection, hanging, stoning, and decapitation. Around the world, there are presently almost 3,000 people on death row (What is Amnesty International, 1997, Oct. 29, p. 13). Rushing to stand on behalf of these prisoners is the powerful social activist group Amnesty International. Amnesty International Aopposes the death penalty in all cases on the grounds that it is a violation of the†¦show more content†¦In 1977, their achievements landed them a recipient award of the Nobel Prize for Peace (AAmnesty International of the U.S.A.,@ 1996, p. 2162). Today, Amnesty International has more then 1,000,000 members, subscribers, and regular donors in more than 100 countries and territories throughout the world. Without including the thousands of schools, universities, and professional groups that do not register internationally, Amnesty International holds 4,287 local groups within the International Secretariat. The heart of the organization lies in London, with over 300 permanent staff members and 95 volunteers from around the world (AAmnesty International=s facts and figures,@ 1997, Nov. 15, p. 1). For every organization to work there must be some type of administration, and indeed, Amnesty International has one. Today, the Secretary General in charge of Amnesty International is Pierre Sane. In whole, it is governed by a nine-member International Executive Committee. Eight of the nine members are volunteers, elected every two years by an International Council, and one elected member of the International Secretariat (AFacts and figures about Amnesty International,@ 1997, Nov. 1, p. 1). Finally, the last bit of information about Amnesty International is its main focuses. Standing by its detailed international statute, Amnesty International=sShow MoreRelated The Effectiveness of Amnesty International1143 Words   |  5 Pages The Effectiveness of Amnesty International In 1961, two Portuguese students raising a toast to freedom were imprisoned for 7 years. Upon learning about the controversy, Peter Benenson, a British lawyer published The Forgotten Prisoners in the Observer newspaper. This became the article that launched Amnesty International and the worldwide campaign to take action and fight for human rights. Amnesty International or commonly called AI is a worldwide, non for profit organization that advocates andRead MoreEssay on The Pros and Cons of Capital Punishment1208 Words   |  5 Pagesright to life, while degrading the individual, and serving no true justification of the action at all. The death penalty has not always been popular in the United States. It arose in the early years of the United States, and stems from a heavy influence from the British. Colonial times yielded very few cases of the death penalty. It was not until the 19th century when the death penalty became very popular and rose to its highest points. By the 1930s, around 150 people were executed yearly, whichRead More Against the Death Penalty Essay1533 Words   |  7 Pages The Death Penalty Human rights are fundamental rights which every human being is entitled to just because they are human. The death penalty is the ultimate, irreversible denial of human rights. 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