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Amnesty Displeased with Death Penalty Stance

Death-penalty-stanceAntigua St John's - Amnesty International has issued a public statement regarding Antigua & Barbuda's reluctance to abolish the death penalty.

This came after this week's adoption of the Universal Periodic Review of Antigua & Barbuda by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The following is a statement sharing the recommendations made by the organisation to the Government of Antigua and Barbuda.


Antigua and Barbuda: Amnesty International welcomes the commitment to condemn human rights violations against persons because of their sexual orientation, but regrets the rejection of recommendations to abolish the death penalty.

Human Rights Council adopts Universal Periodic Review outcome on Antigua and Barbuda

Amnesty International welcomes that there have been no executions in Antigua and Barbuda in the last 11 years, and further welcomes the government’s commitment to rigorously apply international standards for fair trial in all death penalty cases.

However, Amnesty International is disappointed that Antigua and Barbuda rejected recommendations from six States to abolish the death penalty.

Amnesty International rejects the government’s justification that it does not have a political mandate to abolish the death penalty.

The organization believes that public opinion on capital punishment is overwhelmingly based on a desire to be protected from violence and to be free from fear of crime.

A more effective strategy to address public safety would involve improving the capacity of the police to detect and solve crimes, enhancing the criminal justice system, and tackling the root causes of crime and violence more effectively.

Amnesty International recalls that the death penalty violates the right to life as recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and urges Antigua and Barbuda to impose a formal moratorium on the use of the death penalty with a view to abolishing it; to commute all death sentences to terms of imprisonment; to ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR; and to vote in support of the next General Assembly resolution on a moratorium on the use of the death penalty.

Amnesty International welcomes Antigua and Barbuda’s commitment to condemn human rights violations against persons because of their sexual orientation and to institute policies and initiatives to address discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

However, the organization emphasizes that the removal of discriminatory laws is a first step in fighting the stigma surrounding homosexuality, and regrets the government’s rejection of recommendations to decriminalize sexual relations between consenting adults of the same sex.


Amnesty International welcomes Antigua and Barbuda’s support of recommendations to sign and ratify international human rights conventions including the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.


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11 Comments In This Article   

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RE: Amnesty Displeased with Death Penalty Stance

#11 POV » 2012-03-20 19:02

if the only argument you guys have here is that amensty international likes to pick on small countries, you have NO arguement. they constantly put pressure on states like texas and large countries like china. do a little reasearch (google search, not hard to do) before you make ignorant comments. of course they try to guide independent countries (states etc) who are abusing human rights down a more righteous path ... thats the whole point, duh!!! i remember hearing many antiguan people making a lot of noise when the states exectuted that guy recently ... sounds like the doctors cant take their own medicine.
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POV

RE: Amnesty Displeased with Death Penalty Stance

#10 Nameless » 2012-03-20 18:43

ONE WORLD ORDER IN PROGRESS!!!! SMH!!!!
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Nameless

RE: Amnesty Displeased with Death Penalty Stance

#9 Independent » 2012-03-20 16:31

As usual we have an outside group trying to dictate how an "independent" country should run its affairs. As was said before me why don't they ask the great U.S. of A to abolish the death penalty? Texas is one state that performs a lot of executions. We haven't executed anyone in years yet still they're disappointed because we don't want to do away with it. Clean up your own backyards and take the proverbial "beam out of your own eye" before pointing at other people's countries. Oh by the way....I wonder how they're doing in regards to trying to abolish death penalties in the Middle East? Seems like those are countries they should try and put some effort into.
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Independent

RE: Amnesty Displeased with Death Penalty Stance

#8 ANTIGUAN WOMAN » 2012-03-20 14:07

Abolish the death sentence and legalize buggery.Lord have mercy upon our poor souls.
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ANTIGUAN WOMAN

RE: Amnesty Displeased with Death Penalty Stance

#7 BUSS » 2012-03-20 12:39

Amenesty needs to revisit thier OLD PEOPLE thinking and let us start to snap the necks of all the violators of OUR human rights!! murderers have no more use to the nation.... Done them!!
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BUSS

RE: Amnesty Displeased with Death Penalty Stance

#6 Pied Piper » 2012-03-20 12:16

Dear Amnesty International;

It is strange that you condemn sovereign states such as Antigua & Barbuda on its policies in regards to Sexual Orientation/Hom osexuality and the Death Penalty.

When in fact, you have not up to this date condemned other major sovereign states such as the US and England for the unjustifiable death of one Saddam Husein. I will not go into the matters of the case for which you was very much tranche in behind the scenes.

Secondly, the mighty and hypocritical US who have many states inclusive of Texas not too long ago, condemned and distributed death to a few of their prisoners; men and women alike and yet not a word was stated by you.

The next time you make statements about how sovereign states such as Antigua\Barbuda deals with Sexual orientation and Death Penalties these states will have no other choice but to give these individuals free passages to countries that you are Headquarters in or aligned with.

Have a nice day and please to put the Bible, the Torah, or even the Quran as the centre of your policies and not that book that has the emblem the Sigil of Baphomet.
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Pied Piper

RE: Amnesty Displeased with Death Penalty Stance

#5 wadadlineko » 2012-03-20 10:28

If there displeased how bout we send the people to stay in their countries and become a burden on their societies. To me it seems like organizations like amnesty international likes to throw around the big stick on small developing countries like us and dictate what we should and should not do but they dare not do that with the big countries. China execute people all the time. America executes people, along with many middle eastern country. Forget amnesty international. If they don't want people to be hanged or executed then let them give the countries the money to house and feed the criminals for the rest of their lives. I think that is a reasonable request.
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wadadlineko

'Universal' Declaration of Human Rights

#4 dadlison » 2012-03-20 09:55

If its so Universal why did my country not have a say in its contents? Typical 'Western' thinking: Let's make some rules we feel comfortable with and then impose them on the rest of the world.
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dadlison

Let Amnesty Deal with Texas first

#3 Judge Dredd » 2012-03-20 09:11

It is amazing how these organisations can point fingers at small countries but can't say anything about the mighty United States. As Governor of Texas, fomer US President George W. Bush, executed hundreds. Current Governor Rick Perry continues to do the same. Where is the pressure from Amnesty? Usual double standard. Tell Amnesty to take a hike. We will deal with things the way we see fit.
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Judge Dredd

Give me a break!!!

#2 Citizen » 2012-03-20 08:56

Who cares what Amnesty thinks on this matter? Dem no rule arwee. dem people no k bout arwee so go jump in d Lake, arwee hab Dams and ponds.
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Citizen

go to america and tell them

#1 MAINE » 2012-03-20 07:08

america has the death penalty, why not go to america and tell them to get rid of their death penalty.what because we are to by 4.
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