CAPITAL PUNISHMENT UN Declarations. What is the UN? The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation.

CAPITAL PUNISHMENTCAPITAL PUNISHMENTUN DeclarationsUN Declarations

What is the UN?What is the UN?

The The United NationsUnited Nations ( (UNUN) is an ) is an international organization whose stated international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, international law, international security, economic development, social progress, economic development, social progress, human rights, and the achieving of world human rights, and the achieving of world peace. peace.

The UN was founded in 1945 after World War II The UN was founded in 1945 after World War II to replace the League of Nations, to stop wars to replace the League of Nations, to stop wars between countries, and to provide a platform for between countries, and to provide a platform for dialogue.dialogue.

There are currently 192 member states, including There are currently 192 member states, including nearly every sovereign state in the world. From its nearly every sovereign state in the world. From its offices around the world, the UN and its specialized offices around the world, the UN and its specialized agencies decide on substantive and administrative agencies decide on substantive and administrative issues in regular meetings held throughout the issues in regular meetings held throughout the year. year.

What is a UN Declaration?What is a UN Declaration?

The The Universal Universal Declaration of Declaration of Human RightsHuman Rights ((UDHRUDHR) is a ) is a declaration adopted declaration adopted by the United by the United Nations General Nations General Assembly (10 Assembly (10 December 1948 at December 1948 at the Palais de the Palais de Chaillot, Paris).Chaillot, Paris).

The The Guinness Book of RecordsGuinness Book of Records describes the UDHR as the "Most describes the UDHR as the "Most

Translated Document" in the world. Translated Document" in the world.

Why did it come about?Why did it come about?

The Declaration arose directly from the The Declaration arose directly from the experience of the Second World War and experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are rights to which all human beings are entitled. entitled.

It consists of 30 articles which have been It consists of 30 articles which have been elaborated in subsequent international elaborated in subsequent international treaties, regional human rights treaties, regional human rights instruments, national constitutions and instruments, national constitutions and laws. laws.

Which are the relevant UN Which are the relevant UN Declarations when thinking about Declarations when thinking about

Capital Punishment?Capital Punishment?

There are 30 Declarations in the UN There are 30 Declarations in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights.Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

For the purpose of our course we will For the purpose of our course we will need to look at 3 in particular: Articles 1, need to look at 3 in particular: Articles 1, 3 and 5.3 and 5.

Article 1Article 1

All human beings are born free All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. of brotherhood.

Article 3Article 3

Everyone has the right Everyone has the right to life, liberty and to life, liberty and security of person. security of person.

Article 5Article 5

No one shall be No one shall be subjected to torture or to subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or degrading treatment or punishment. punishment.

Think about it.Think about it.

To what extent can the To what extent can the UN’s UDHR help us if UN’s UDHR help us if we are thinking about we are thinking about Capital Punishment?Capital Punishment?

Capital PunishmentCapital PunishmentKnowledge and Understanding Knowledge and Understanding — historic and — historic and contemporary use of Capital Punishment in UK contemporary use of Capital Punishment in UK and world-wide (including overview of historic and and world-wide (including overview of historic and current case studiescurrent case studies), methods of execution, UN ), methods of execution, UN declarations. declarations.

Analysis Analysis — Religious and secular viewpoints on — Religious and secular viewpoints on the issues. the issues.

Evaluation Evaluation —Comment on the strengths and —Comment on the strengths and weaknesses of viewpoints on capital punishment; weaknesses of viewpoints on capital punishment; religious and moral implications for the individual religious and moral implications for the individual and society.and society.