LESSON 2 UNITED NATIONS DEATH PENALTY DEBATE · LESSON 2 UNITED NATIONS DEATH PENALTY DEBATE ......
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AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
LESSON 2 UNITED NATIONS DEATH PENALTY DEBATE
LEARNINg ObjEcTIvES
This lesson encourages students to: •understandtheprocessofaUNdebateonaglobal
issue; •presentargumentsforaparticularpointofviewonthe
deathpenalty,includingopposingonesandpersuadeotherstosupportposition;
•criticallyevaluatedifferentviewpointsonthedeathpenalty;
•considerhowtotakeinformedactionontheissue.
SkILLS
Discussion,debate,questioning,reflection;interpretationandcriticalanalysisofsources;presentingaconvincingargumentnotalwaysyourown;advocacyandrepresentation.
cuRRIcuLuM LINkS
PleaserefertoDVD.
PRIOR LEARNINg
Thislessonassumesknowledgeofthedeathpenalty,includingargumentsforandagainstitsuse,andoftheaimsandworkingsoftheUnitedNations.
WhAT YOu NEEd
AvailableontheDVDunlessotherwisestated.For each student: •Anambassadorrolecard,whichincludesacountry
nameandflag,alongwithanaccompanyingsetofambassadorbriefingnotes(foldinhalfanddisplay ondesk)
•TheItalianmotion(oneperstudent)•Forandagainstthedeathpenaltyinformationsheet•Glossary•UniversalDeclarationofHumanRightssummaryversion
(alsoinfolderpocket)For the teacher: •AUNflag•Chair’sbriefingnotes
AbOuT ThIS LESSON
StudentswillholdamockUnitedNations(UN)debateontheworldwideuseofthedeathpenalty.ItislooselybasedonaplanneddebateonthedeathpenaltyduetostartattheUNGeneralAssemblyinOctober2010(seebackgroundbelow).
Eachstudentwillbeappointedastheambassadorofamemberstateandwillbeaskedtoconsiderwhetherthedeathpenaltyshouldberestrictedorevenabolishedaroundtheworld.
Eachambassadorisgivenbriefingnotesoutliningtheirpositiononthedebate.Thesebriefingnotesarefictitious,althougheachsuggestedpositionbroadlyreflectsthecountry’shistoricalbackgroundandincorporatesteachingsfromthatcountry’sdominantreligioustraditionandpoliticalposition.Throughthislessonstudentsareabletoexploretheinfluenceofreligiousteachingsonpoliticaldecision-makingaswellasfurtherconsiderargumentsforandagainstthedeathpenaltyexploredinLesson1.
background to this mock uN debate On18December2007,theUNGeneralAssemblyadoptedtheresolution62/149callingforaworldwidemoratorium(freeze)onexecutionswithaviewtoabolition.Theresolutionwasadoptedbyanoverwhelmingmajorityof104UNmemberstatesinfavour,54againstand29abstentions.ItwasthefirsttimetheUNGeneralAssemblyapprovedamoratoriumontheuseofthedeathpenalty.Inthatdebate,ItalyandMalaysiatooktheleadroles,asinourlessonplan.
AsecondresolutiononthedeathpenaltywasadoptedbytheUNGeneralAssemblyon18December2008ontheimplementationofthe2007UNGAresolution62/149.Supporthadincreased:106statesvotedinfavour,46againstand34abstained.Theseresolutionsarenotlegallybindingbuthavemoralforce.Theyareasteptowardsglobalabolitionofthedeathpenalty.
Asimilarresolutionwillbeconsideredatthe65th UNGeneralAssemblyattheendof2010.Thislessonislooselybasedonthisplanneddebate.
TIME
1-2 lessons/1-2 hours(oruptothreehourstocovermoredetail).
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
LESSON 2 UNITED NATIONS DEATH PENALTY DEBATE
PREPARINg FOR ThE dEbATE
Time: 10-15minutes
Introducethelearningobjectivesasappropriatewiththeclass.Readthroughthe Glossaryasaclassandexplainanddiscusskeywords(egUnitedNations,motion,abolition,moratorium,caucus)fortheUNdebate.
TelltheclasstheywillbeposingasambassadorstotheUN,andexplainthattheyareabouttodebateamotionfromItalycallingforamoratoriumontheuseofthedeathpenalty.Handoutcopiesofthe Italian motion and read throughasaclass.Explainthatyouwillchairthedebate.
Assigneachstudenttoacountryandhandouttheappropriateambassadorrolecards,withsecretbriefingnotes.Theyshouldfoldtheircardinhalfsotheircountrynameandflagisfacingoutwards,andtheirsecretambassador’sbriefingisfacingthem.Explainthatbeingfamiliarwiththeircountryisanimportantpartofthisactivity;studentsshouldreadtheirbriefingbutkeepthecontentsconfidential.
Informthestudentsthatthebriefingnotescomeintwoparts:
•Backgroundinformationaboutthecountrytheyarerepresenting.
•Theirpositioninthedebate,whichgivesstudentspossibleargumentstouse–includingreligious,political,financialandmoralarguments–andsuggestedvotingtactics.
Makeitclearthatthesebriefingsaretotallyimaginary,butlooselybasedontheircountry’shistory,itsmainreligionanditsrecordonthedeathpenalty.Explainthatwhenmakingtheirarguments,studentsshoulddoso‘inrole’(pleaseseeTeachingControversialIssuesonpage8)convincingly–evenifthisisapositionthattheydon’tpersonallyshare.Explainthatambassadors,particularlytheundecidedones,maychangetheirpositionwithinreasonafterlisteningtobothsidesofthedebate.Somepowerfulcountriesmayeventrytopressure,threatenorbribethemintochangingtheirvote.
ThE cAucuS
Time: 25minutes
Explainthatthecaucusreferstoaninformaldiscussionsessionwhereoff-the-recorddiscussionsoccurandambassadorsprepareforthedebate.Thisisusuallythetimeambassadorsplottheirstrategyandworkoutwhoisgoingtopresentthedifferentargumentsfortheirside.Tohaveanychanceofwinningthedebate,ambassadorsmustalsolobbyotherambassadors,particularlytheundecidedones,totrytopersuadethemtojointheirside.
Hand out the For and against the death penalty informationsheet,whichsummarisesthemainarguments.Studentswillalsofindargumentssuggestedontheirbriefingnotes.
LESSON PLAN
countries probably against executions and for the Italian motion
Italy(fortheEU)
Angola
Australia
Azerbaijan
Bhutan
Brazil
Bulgaria
Canada
GuineaBissau
Mexico
Nepal
Poland
SouthAfrica
countries probably for executions and against the Italian motion
Botswana
China
Cuba
Egypt
Indonesia
Jamaica
Malaysia
Singapore
Sudan
USA
uSEFuL LINkS
www.amnesty.org.uk/education Aselectionofdeathpenaltylessonplansandeducationalresources.
www.amnesty.org.uk and www.amnesty.org Thelatestdeathpenaltyreportsandcampaigncases.
www.unesco.org.uk/unmatters UNA-UKteachingpackontheUnitedNations.
hOW TO PREPARE
Inadditiontopreparingtheresources,alsoidentifyconfidentdebatersandgoodorganisersintheclassforthekeyrolesinthisactivity:•TheItalianambassador,whowillpresentthemotion
onbehalfoftheEuropeanUnionandothersponsors.•TheMalaysianambassador,whowillleadthe
oppositiontothemotion.•Keyopponentsofthedeathpenalty,includingSouth
Africa,CanadaandGuinea-Bissau.•Keysupportersofthedeathpenalty,includingChina,
US,SudanandCuba.
Thereare30ambassadorrolecards.Ifyouhavefewerthan30studentsinyourclass,trytogetabalancebetweenambassadorswhowillprobablybeforthemotion,thoseagainstandthoseundecided.Somerolecardsaremorecomplexthanothers(seekeybelow).Assignaccordingly.
Probable country positions on the death penalty in the debate:
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key: =Higherlevelofdifficulty
=Low/mediumlevelofdifficulty
Probably undecided countries
Algeria
ElSalvador
Ethiopia
India
Israel
Lebanon
Malawi
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
LESSON 2 UNITED NATIONS DEATH PENALTY DEBATE
betweenreligions,butalsowithinreligions.Canyouidentifyanyexamplesofthisinthedebate?
4Doyouthinkit’srightthatcountriescanchoosewhetherornottousethedeathpenaltyforthemselves?WhatcouldtheroleoftheUNbeinissuessuchasthedeathpenalty?
Thefollowingpointsmayhelpyoutoexplorethesequestionswithstudents:
•Factorsthatinfluenceacountry’spositiononthedeathpenaltyinclude: –religiousconsiderationssuchastheteachingsoftheofficialreligionofthecountry; –politicalconsiderationssuchaspopularitywithvoters,crimerates,influenceandrelationshipswithothercountries; –economicconsiderationssuchasthecostofkeepingpeopleinprisonversusthecostofexecutingthem.
•Religioustraditionsoftenincludeteachingsbothonjusticethroughretributionandoncompassionorforgiveness,forexampleinChristianity‘aneyeforaneye’(OldTestament)contrastswiththe‘turntheothercheek’(NewTestament).
•Countriescandecidewhattheydowithintheirownboundariesaslongastheydonotabusehumanrights.Pleasenotethatthedeathpenaltyisstillpermittedunderinternationallaw.
•Humanrightslawsareconstantlyevolvingtoensurethattheyarerelevanttoourchangingsociety.OrganisationssuchastheUNtrytobuildaglobalconsensusonissuessuchastheabolitionofthedeathpenalty.Humanrightslawitselfcouldbechangedtoreflectthisevolution.
ExTENSION/hOMEWORk
•ExplaintostudentsthatthedebatethattheyhavebeentakingpartinissimilartoonewhichisplannedtostartattheUnitedNationsGeneralAssemblyinOctober2010.Askstudentstosubmittheirviewsorconsiderhowtheycouldtakeactiontocampaignfortheabolitionofthedeathpenaltyinadvanceofthisvote.
TAkINg AcTION
•Forthoseinterestedingettinginvolvedindeath penaltyactivismasaresultofthislearning,youandyourstudents can go to www.amnesty.org.uk/lifeanddeath formoreinformation.Ifstudentswishtosetupayouthgroupseepage22ofthisbookletandinformationontheDVD.
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Startthecaucus.
•AlltheambassadorswhoareforthemotionshouldmeetwiththeItalianambassadortoworkouttheirmainandstrongestargumentsagainstthedeathpenalty.Askthemtodecidewhoshouldpresentwhicharguments.
•AlltheambassadorswhoareagainstthemotionshouldmeetwiththeMalaysianambassadortoworkouttheirmainandstrongestargumentsforkeepingthedeathpenalty.Askthemtodecidewhoshouldpresenteachargument.
•Undecidedambassadorsshouldmeettogethertodiscusswhichwaytheywillvote.
Theotherambassadorsshouldthenapproachundecidedambassadorstotrytogetthemtovotefor/againstthemotion.
SPEEch PREPARATION
Time: 10minutes
Askyourstudentstopreparetheirspeechesforthedebate.Theyshouldusetheirbriefingnotesandmaketheirspeecharoundoneminutelong.
ThE dEbATE
Time: 30-45minutes
IfpossiblelaytheroomoutwithseatsinahorseshoeshapewiththeChair’sdeskatthefrontwiththeUNflagdisplayedonit.Studentsshouldfoldtheirrolecardinhalfandstanditonthedeskinfrontofthem,sotheflagisdisplayedtotheclasswhiletheambassadorcanreadthebriefingnotes.YoumaywishtosearchtheInternetforaphotooftheUNGeneralAssemblytoshowstudents.
BeginbyintroducingthedebateandsettingthesceneinyourroleasChair.Askstudentstoraisetheirrolecardsifthey’dliketospeak,andchoosedelegatestobeplacedonthespeakerslist.TheninvitetheItalianambassadortoformallyreadoutthemotionandgivehisorherspeech.
Calluptheambassadorsonthespeakerslistonebyonetoaddressthecommittee.Ifpossiblemovefromacountryforthemotiontooneundecidedtoonewhoisprobablyagainst.
Oncethespeakerslistisfinished,callforavotebyashowofhands,firstthoseforthemotion,thenthoseagainstthemotion,andthenthoseabstaining.
ThE dE-bRIEF
Time: 15-20minutes
Askstudentstocomeoutoftheroleanddiscussthefollowingkeyquestionsinsmallgroupsorasaclass,orsetthemasquestionsforhomework:
1Howdidyoufindyourexperienceofbeinganambassador?Hasitchangedyourperceptionofthedeathpenalty?
2Whatfactorsinfluencethepositionthatacountrytakesonanissuelikethedeathpenalty?
3Religiouspositionsonmoralissuesoftenvarynotonly
Thisbriefingcardhasbeendevelopedforaneducationalresourcetobeusedintheclassroom.Thefactsaboutuseofthedeathpenaltyarecorrect,buttheargumentssuggestedmaynotreflectaccuratelythecountry’sposition.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESALgERIAALgERIA
Your country is:Abolitionist in practice. Whilejudgescontinuetoissuethedeathsentence–particularlyincasesrelatedtoterrorism–Algeriahasnotexecutedaprisonersince1993whenanofficialmoratorium(suspension)onexecutionswasdeclared.In2009,100peopleweresentencedtodeath. country informationAlgeriaislocatedinNorthAfricaandhas34.9millionpeople. Your position in the debateAlgeriansarelockedinavigorousdebateoverthesuspensionofthedeathpenaltyintroducedin1993.In2008Algeriaco-sponsoredandvotedinfavouroftheresolutiononamoratoriumontheuseofthedeathpenaltyattheUNGeneralAssembly.However,in2009thegovernmentrejectedabilltoabolishthedeathpenaltyproposedbyanoppositionparliamentarian.
Youmightarguethat,withamoratorium(freeze)ontheuse
ofthedeathpenaltyinplaceforyears,capitalpunishmentisoutdated,andthepenaltyforseriouscrimesshouldbelifeimprisonment.Thedeathpenaltyalsoharmsthenation’sreputation.
ThevastmajorityofthepopulationisMuslim.TheHolyQur’ansaysthateveryonehastherighttolife,exceptwhenacourtoflawdemandsthedeathpenalty:‘DonotkillaSoulwhichAllahhasmadesacredexceptthroughthedueprocessoflaw.’ItalsosaysintheQur’anthattwoofthemostimportantofAllah’smostbeautifulnamesareal-Rahman(theMerciful)andal-Rahim(theCompassionate)whichsuggeststheimportanceofforgivenessinIslam.
Youarecurrentlyundecidedaboutwhichwaytovoteorwhethertovoteatall.Perhapsthedeathpenaltyshouldneverbeusedanymoreinyourcountry,orjustinextremecasesagainstterrorists?Inthecaucus,listentobothsidesoftheargument.
Thisbriefingcardhasbeendevelopedforaneducationalresourcetobeusedintheclassroom.Thefactsaboutuseofthedeathpenaltyarecorrect,buttheargumentssuggestedmaynotreflectaccuratelythecountry’sposition.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESANgOLAANgOLA
Your country is:Abolitionist for all crimes. Thedeathpenaltywasabolishedin1992.In2010,AngolaapprovedanewConstitutionthatkeepsthedeathpenaltybanned. country informationAngolaisacountryinWesternsub-SaharanAfricawith apopulationof18.5million. Your position in the debateAngolasufferedabrutal27-yearcivilwarfrom1975;approximately500,000werekilled.Youmightarguethatyourcountryknowsthehorrorandpaindeathrepresentsandwillalwaysdefendtherighttolife.Andthedeathpenaltyisthecruellest,mostinhumananddegradingformoftorture.
Around40percentofAngolansareChristians.Fromareligiousperspective,youmightarguethatJesusChristsufferedtheinjusticeofthedeathpenaltybycrucifixion
andhepreachedforgivenessratherthanretribution–soyouopposeexecutionsonreligiousgrounds,fullstop.
JointheItaliansinthecaucus.TrytopersuadeBotswana,SouthAfrica,MalawiandotherfellowAfricannationstosupporttheItalianmotion.
Thisbriefingcardhasbeendevelopedforaneducationalresourcetobeusedintheclassroom.Thefactsaboutuseofthedeathpenaltyarecorrect,buttheargumentssuggestedmaynotreflectaccuratelythecountry’sposition.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESAuSTRALIAAuSTRALIA
Your country is:Abolitionist for all crimes. Australiaabolishedthedeathpenaltyin1984.Thelastexecutiontookplacein1967. country informationAustraliaisanislandcontinentintheSouthPacificwithapopulationof21.3million. Your position in the debateThedeathpenaltyiswidelycondemnedbymostAustralians,andtherearenoplanstorestoreit.AustraliahassignedtheSecondOptionalProtocoltotheInternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights,whichaimsattheabolitionofthedeathpenalty.In2010theFederalParliamentpassedlawsensuringthedeathpenaltycanneverbereintroducedbyanystateorterritoryinAustralia.Youcouldarguethisisthehallmarkofacivilisedsociety,andwhenmistakesaremadetheconsequencesareserious.Peoplehavebeenexecutedwhoarelaterfoundtohavebeeninnocent.Thedeathpenaltyisirrevocable(can’tbereversed).
Arguethatlifeimprisonmentisabetteralternative.Therecanneverbeanyjustificationfortortureorforcrueltreatment.Liketorture,anexecutionconstitutesanextremephysicalandmentalassaultonanindividual.Itdoesn’tgivecriminalsthechancetorepent.
Youmightalsoarguethatthestatecarryingoutexecutionsturnsusallintokillers.Murderingpeoplewhomurderishypocritical.
Thereisnoofficialreligioninyourcountry.
JointheItaliansinthecaucus.Youwishtheirmotionwasstronger,andthatitcalledfortheendofallexecutionsallovertheworldimmediately.
Thisbriefingcardhasbeendevelopedforaneducationalresourcetobeusedintheclassroom.Thefactsaboutuseofthedeathpenaltyarecorrect,buttheargumentssuggestedmaynotreflectaccuratelythecountry’sposition.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESAZERbAIjANAZERbAIjAN
Your country is:Abolitionist for all crimes. Youareproudtohaveabolishedthedeathpenaltyin1998. country informationAzerbaijanislocatedontheborderofEasternEuropeandWesternAsia.Ithas8.8millioncitizens. Your position in the debateYourcountryhasratified(confirmeditwillabideby)aninternationaltreaty(SecondOptionalProtocoltotheInternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights)aimingattheabolitionofthedeathpenalty,withtheoptiontouseitintimesofwar.
Youbelievethetimehascometoabolishthedeathpenaltyworldwide.Youcouldarguethatexperienceshowsthatexecutionsbrutalisethoseinvolvedintheprocessandnowherehasitbeenshownthatthedeathpenaltyhasanyspecialpowertoreducecrimeorpoliticalviolence.
Ninety-threepercentofthepopulationisMuslim,although
thegovernmentissecular(notbasedonareligion).AzerbaijanwasthefirstdemocraticandsecularcountryintheMuslimworld.Fromareligiousperspective,pointoutthatIslamisafaithofpeace,justiceandserviceandacivilizingforceforhumanity.ThemostcommonMuslimgreetingis‘As-Salámu`Alaykum’whichmeans‘Peacebeuponyou’.Islamforbidsviolence,especiallyagainstinnocentanddefencelesspeople.TheHolyQur’anpraisesthemerciful(forgiving).Youmightarguethatthewholeprocessofcapitalpunishmentundermineshumandignitytreatinghumanlifewithtotaldisrespect.
JointheItaliansinthecaucus.
Thisbriefingcardhasbeendevelopedforaneducationalresourcetobeusedintheclassroom.Thefactsaboutuseofthedeathpenaltyarecorrect,buttheargumentssuggestedmaynotreflectaccuratelythecountry’sposition.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESbhuTANbhuTAN
Your country is:Abolitionist for all crimes. In2004theKingofBhutanissuedaRoyalDecreeabolishingthedeathpenalty.Thelastknownexecutiontookplacein1964. country informationBhutanisanAsianmountainkingdomofaround 697,000people. Your position in the debateBhutanisaBuddhistnation,andcapitalpunishmentisseenasacontradictiontothebasicbeliefsofBuddhism.Youbelievefirmlyintheprincipleofnon-violenceandrespectforlife,ahimsa.Thisisaruleofconductthatbarsthekillingorinjuringoflivingthings.Soinyourbelief,thedeathpenaltyisnotjustifiable.
YoumightaddthatrespectforlifeisanideaoffundamentalimportanceintheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRights:
Article3‘EveryonehastheRighttolife…’
Article5‘Nooneshouldbesubjectedtotortureortocruel,inhumanordegradingtreatment…’
JointheItaliansinthecaucus.
Thisbriefingcardhasbeendevelopedforaneducationalresourcetobeusedintheclassroom.Thefactsaboutuseofthedeathpenaltyarecorrect,buttheargumentssuggestedmaynotreflectaccuratelythecountry’sposition.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESbOTSWANAbOTSWANA
Your country is:Retentionist. ThedeathpenaltyhasbeeninforceheresincethecountrygainedindependencefromBritainin1965.Itisappliedformurder,treasonandpiracy.In2009,twopeopleweresentencedtodeathandonepersonwasexecuted. country informationBotswanaisacountryof1.9millionpeopleinSouthernAfrica. Your position in the debateBotswana’sstanceonthedeathpenaltyisn’tabouttobeswayed.Executionscannottakeplacewithoutawarrantsignedbythepresident.Clemency(leniencyormercy)hasneverbeengranted.Defendyourpositionbysayingitisthewillofthecitizens.
YouarealsoaChristiannation.PointoutthattheBibleclearlycallsfor‘aneyeforaneye’.Ifyoutakesomeone’slife,youforfeityourown.
YouopposethemotionfromItalyandthe‘bullyboy’tacticsoftheformercolonialcountriessuchastheUK,whoyoufeelarealwaystryingtotellformercolonieshowtomanagetheirinternalaffairs.
Inyourspeechyoumightaskthatothercountriesthataresopassionatelyinfavouroftherighttolifeshouldconsidertheirotherpoliciessuchasinvolvementinwarsandmilitaryoperations.
JointheMalaysiansinthecaucus.
Thisbriefingcardhasbeendevelopedforaneducationalresourcetobeusedintheclassroom.Thefactsaboutuseofthedeathpenaltyarecorrect,buttheargumentssuggestedmaynotreflectaccuratelythecountry’sposition.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESbRAZILbRAZIL
Your country is:Abolitionist for ordinary crimes only. Capitalpunishmentwaslastusedasaformofpunishmentin1876andhasnotbeenofficiallyusedsincetheproclamationoftheRepublicin1889.Itwasfinallyabolishedbythe1988Constitution,withtheexceptionofcrimesoftreasoncommittedinwartime. country informationBrazilisthelargestcountryinSouthAmericaandhasapopulationof193.7million. Your position in the debateBrazilregardsthedeathpenaltyasacruelandinhumanpunishmentthatdegradeshumanlife.Brazilisalsooneofthefewcountriesintheworldthathasabolishedlifesentences–acitizencannotspendmorethan30yearsinprison.Arguethatweshouldbethinkingofawaytorehabilitatecriminals,andlawsneedtoensurejusticenotrevenge.
MostBraziliansareCatholicsandbelievethatforgivenessisakeyvalue.
In2008Brazilco-sponsoredandvotedinfavouroftheresolutiononamoratorium(freeze)ontheuseofthedeathpenaltyattheUNGeneralAssembly.
JointheItaliansinthecaucus.
Thisbriefingcardhasbeendevelopedforaneducationalresourcetobeusedintheclassroom.Thefactsaboutuseofthedeathpenaltyarecorrect,buttheargumentssuggestedmaynotreflectaccuratelythecountry’sposition.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESbuLgARIAbuLgARIA
Your country is:Abolitionist for all crimes. YourcountrywasinfavourofthedeathpenaltywhenitwasaCommuniststateandthroughoutthe1980shadoneofthehighestexecutionratesinEurope.However,Bulgariachangeditsviewsandpracticesandabolishedthedeathpenaltyin1998. country informationBulgariaisinEasternEuropeandhasapopulationof 7.5million. Your position in the debateBulgariajoinedtheEuropeanUnionin2007.TheEUisopposedtotheuseofcapitalpunishmentinallcasesandinallcircumstances–youwillbekeentoshowyourcommitmenttotheEUandhumanrights.
Youmightarguethatthereisnohumanewaytoexecuteahumanbeing;everymethodusedtokillpeopleisverycruel.Also,anymiscarriageofjustice,inevitableinanylegalsystem,isirreversible.
MostpeopleinBulgariaareOrthodoxChristians.Youmightarguethatkillinganyonethroughanexecutioniswrong,asitwouldpreventthepossibilityofapersonmakingamendsfortheiractions.
JointheItaliansinthecaucus.
Thisbriefingcardhasbeendevelopedforaneducationalresourcetobeusedintheclassroom.Thefactsaboutuseofthedeathpenaltyarecorrect,buttheargumentssuggestedmaynotreflectaccuratelythecountry’sposition.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTEScANAdAcANAdA
Your country is:Abolitionist for all crimes. Canadaabolishedthedeathpenaltyforallcrimesin1998.Thelastknownexecutionwasin1962. country informationCanadaisthesecondlargestcountryintheworld, afterRussia,buthasonlyonefifthofthepopulation– 33.6millionpeople. Your position in the debateWhenCanadaabolishedthedeathpenalty,manypeoplesaidthatthemurderratewouldrise.Butthemurderrateactuallydropped.Inyouropinionthisshowsthatthethreatofexecutiondoesnotactasadeterrent(iethefearofcapitalpunishmentifyouarecaughtactuallydoesn’t stopmurder).
MostCanadiansareCatholics.PopeJohnPaulIIwasstronglyagainstcapitalpunishment.In1995hecalledthethousandsofpeopleondeathrowawaitingexecutions‘amacabreassemblylineofdeath’.
Youmightarguethatcapitalpunishmentisthepremeditatedandcold-bloodedkillingofahumanbeingbythestateinthenameofjustice.
JointheItaliansinthecaucus.TalkwithAlgeriaandtrytopersuadetheambassadortovotewithyou.
Thisbriefingcardhasbeendevelopedforaneducationalresourcetobeusedintheclassroom.Thefactsaboutuseofthedeathpenaltyarecorrect,buttheargumentssuggestedmaynotreflectaccuratelythecountry’sposition.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESchINAchINA
Your country is:Retentionist. Chinaexecutesmorepeoplethantherestoftheworldputtogether.However,statisticsremainclassifiedasstatesecretsandwhileexecutionsnumberedintothethousandsin2009,thegovernmentdidnotreleaseactualfigures.Approximatelysixty-eightoffencesinChinaarecapitalcrimes(egpunishablebythedeathpenalty)includingtaxevasion,killingpandasandstealingantiques.Executionsarecarriedoutbyshootingabulletintothebackoftheheadorbylethalinjection. country informationChinaisthemostpopulouscountryintheworldwith 1.3billioncitizens. Your position in the debateYoumightarguethatyourcountryisfacedwithacrimewave.LotsofcriminalsaretryingtodestroyChinaandtheCommunistsystem.Inyouropinion,assoonassomeonehasbeenfoundguiltyofacapitalcrime,theyshouldbequicklyandhumanelykilled.IfotherUNmemberstates
followedyourexampletherewouldbemuchlesscrime intheworld.
Likemorethan80percentofChinesepeople,youdon’tbelieveinreligionatall.Asanatheist,religiousconsiderationsaboutthedeathpenaltyareofnointeresttoyou.
Arguethatthisdebateisnotahumanrightsissue.Thedeathpenaltyisnotbannedunderinternationallaw.Thisisjustanattemptbysomestatestointerfereintheinternalaffairsofyourcountry.
ArgueagainsttheItalianmotion.JoinMalaysiainthecaucus.WorktogetherwithMalaysia,theUSAandCuba.
Thisbriefingcardhasbeendevelopedforaneducationalresourcetobeusedintheclassroom.Thefactsaboutuseofthedeathpenaltyarecorrect,buttheargumentssuggestedmaynotreflectaccuratelythecountry’sposition.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTEScubAcubA
Your country is:Retentionist. Cubaretainsthedeathpenaltyaspunishmentformurder,hijacking,thecorruptionofchildren,drugsmugglingandarmedrobbery.However,itstoppedcarryingoutexecutionsin2003.Threepeopleremainedondeathrowattheendof2009chargedwithterrorism;mostdeathsentenceswerecommutedtoprisontermsof30yearsbyPresidentRaúlCastroin2008. country informationCubaisanislandstateintheCaribbeanwithapopulationof11.2million. Your position in the debateDespitecommutingdeathsentences,PresidentRaúlCastrosaid:‘Itwouldbeirresponsibleandingenuoustorenouncethedissuasivepowerthatcapitalpunishmenthasontherealterrorists.’YoumightarguethatCubaneedsthedeathpenaltytodealwithasmallnumberofvillainsandterroristswhoareresponsibleforthemostseriouscrimes.Ifyoudidn’thavethethreatofexecution
(shootingbyfiringsquad)therewouldbechaosonthestreetsofHavana.LikemostCubansyouareanatheistsocialist,soreligiousideasareofnoparticularinterest toyou.
JoinMalaysiainthecaucus.TrytogetElSalvadorandBraziltovotewithyou.ButwatchhowtheUSAisgoingtovote.Traditionally,CubahasbeensoagainsttheAmericansandtheiranti-Cubanpoliciesthatitwouldvotetheoppositewayorabstain.SincetheelectionofBarackObamaaspresidentoftheUSA,however,CubaandtheUSAhavebeguntothawrelations.
Thisbriefingcardhasbeendevelopedforaneducationalresourcetobeusedintheclassroom.Thefactsaboutuseofthedeathpenaltyarecorrect,buttheargumentssuggestedmaynotreflectaccuratelythecountry’sposition.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESEgYPTEgYPT
Your country is:Retentionist. Egyptretainsthedeathpenalty.In2009,atleast269deathsentenceswereimposedbythecourts,andatleastfiveprisonerswereexecuted. country informationEgyptisthemostpopulouscountryintheMiddleEastwith83millionpeople. Your position in the debateYoumightarguethatexecutionsaretheonlysolutiontohaltEgypt’ssoaringcrimerates.Thisincludesdrugpusherswhocauseuntoldsocialdamage,andextremistgroupswhoconstituteagraveterroristthreat.
MurderisalsoabigproblemonthestreetsofCairo.Thosewhocondemncapitalpunishmentagainstmurderersasbeingtootoughandcruelshouldbeaskedtothinkaboutwhathappenstothevictims?Whatabouttheirreversiblelossoftheirfamilies?Youmightalsoargueitismore
humanetoputsomeonetodeaththantokeepthemlockedupforyears.
Pointoutthatyoursocietyhasitsownbeliefsandstandards,andyouhavenointerestinimitatingothersocietiesinthismatter.
Egyptisasecular(non-religious)stateandreligiouspoliticalpartiesarebanned.
JoinMalaysiainthecaucus.
Thisbriefingcardhasbeendevelopedforaneducationalresourcetobeusedintheclassroom.Thefactsaboutuseofthedeathpenaltyarecorrect,buttheargumentssuggestedmaynotreflectaccuratelythecountry’sposition.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESEL SALvAdOREL SALvAdOR
Your country is:Abolitionist for ordinary crimes only. ElSalvadorabolishedthedeathpenaltyforordinarycrimesinpeacetimein1983. country informationElSalvadorisasmallCentralAmericanstatewithapopulationof6.2million. Your position in the debateInElSalvadormoderateleft-wingPresidentMauricioFunes,electedin2009,isunlikelytorestorethe deathpenalty.
Youmightarguethatexecutionsareirrevocable(ieoncesomeoneisexecutedthesentencecan’tbeundone).Thedeathpenaltyisadangeroussentenceespeciallyincountrieswherethelegalsystemisweak.Dreadfulmistakescanandhavebeenmadebysomeofthebestcourtsintheworld,sendinginnocentpeopletotheirdeaths.
Fromareligiousperspective,yousupporttheCatholicCatechism(officialteachingoftheCatholicChurch)thatdecreesthedeathpenaltytobepermissibleonlyinrarecircumstances,whenasocietydoesnothavethemeanstokeepitscitizenssafefromcriminals,forexamplein wartime.
JointheItaliansinthecaucus.Listentobothsidesofthedebate.SpeaktotheCanadianambassadorwiththeCubansandBrazilians.
Thisbriefingcardhasbeendevelopedforaneducationalresourcetobeusedintheclassroom.Thefactsaboutuseofthedeathpenaltyarecorrect,buttheargumentssuggestedmaynotreflectaccuratelythecountry’sposition.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESEThIOPIAEThIOPIA
Your country is:Retentionist. Ethiopiastillkeepsthedeathpenaltyinlawaspunishmentformurder,butitisrarelyused.Therehaveonlybeentwoexecutionssince1991.In2009atleast11peopleweresentencedtodeathbutnoexecutionswerereported. country informationEthiopiaisacountryinEastAfricawithapopulationof82.8million. Your position in the debateSeveraldozenpeopleyouconsiderwarcriminalsandterroristshavebeencondemnedtodeathinEthiopiainrecentyears.Thedeathpenaltyisanimportantdeterrantandcountriesshouldbeabletouseitforthispurpose.HoweveryourPresident,anOrthodoxChristian,usuallycommutesdeathsentencestolifeimprisonment.ThismayreflectthereverenceforlifeandforgivenessthatareofprofoundimportanceintheChristianfaith.
Ethiopianpublicopinionandthefamiliesofthevictimsofcapitalcrimesdowantexecutions,though,andconsidertheyarealegalandeffectiveformofpunishment.Andifonlyonepotentialmurderer,assassinorterroristisdeterredfromcommittingacapitalcrimebecauseheorshefearsthedeathpenalty,ithasworkedtokeepinnocentpeoplesafe.
Youareundecidedabouthowtovote.Listentothedebate.PossiblyvoteagainsttheItalians,theoldcolonialpower,ordon’tvoteatall.TalkwithfellowAfricanrepresentativesfromSouthAfricaandMalawi.SeewhatSudanisgoingtodoandperhapsvotetheexactoppositewaytothem(becauseofEthiopia’shistoryofdisputeswiththisneighbouringcountry).
Thisbriefingcardhasbeendevelopedforaneducationalresourcetobeusedintheclassroom.Thefactsaboutuseofthedeathpenaltyarecorrect,buttheargumentssuggestedmaynotreflectaccuratelythecountry’sposition.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESguINEA-bISSAuguINEA-bISSAu
Your country is:Abolitionist for all crimes. Yourcountryhasbeenabolitionistsince1993,withthelastknownexecutionhavingtakenplacein1986. country informationGuinea-BissauisasmallcountryinWestAfricawithapopulationof1.6million.
Your position in the debateMorethanhalfthepeopleofGuinea-BissauareAnimists(whichreferstoareligiousbeliefthatsoulsorspiritsexistinanimals,plantsandotherentities,aswellashumans).MostoftherestareMuslim.Animistsbelieveinaworld ofspiritsinlivingcreaturesandnature.Asananimist youhaveaprofoundrespectforlifeandopposethe deathpenalty.
Inyourspeechyoucouldalsoarguethatcourtsmaketerriblemistakes.Innocentpeoplecanbefoundguiltyandbekilled.ThishashappenedinEnglandandAmericaandinmanyothercountries.
Youmightalsohighlightthedisgustthatmostpeoplefeelwhentheyhearaccountsofindividualsbeingtortured.Surelyweshouldfeelevenmoredisgustedbytheuseoftorturemethodstodeliberatelykillsomeonebyhanging,beheading,lethalinjection,electrocutionorshooting todeath.
JointheItaliancaucus.
Thisbriefingcardhasbeendevelopedforaneducationalresourcetobeusedintheclassroom.Thefactsaboutuseofthedeathpenaltyarecorrect,buttheargumentssuggestedmaynotreflectaccuratelythecountry’sposition.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESINdIAINdIA
Your country is:Retentionist. Indiaretainsthedeathpenaltycarriedoutbyhangingasthefinalpunishmentforthemostseriouscrimes,butitwasdecidedbytheSupremeCourtin1983thatitshouldonlybeusedonthe‘rarestofrareoccasions’.UnderIndianlaw,thedeathpenaltycanbeimposedfor:murder,robberyleadingtodeath,encouragingthesuicideofachildorinsaneperson,wagingwaragainstthegovernmentandencouragingmutinybythearmedforcesandterrorism.Atleast50peopleweresentencedtodeathin2009althoughnoexecutionstookplace. country informationIndiaisthesecondmostpopulouscountryintheworldwithnearly1.2billioninhabitants. Your position in the debateIndiavotedagainstadeathpenaltymoratoriumintheUNGeneralAssemblyin2007and2008.Butwithnoexecutionssince2004,yourcountryisstuckbetweenjoiningtheabolitiontrendandclingingtothenotionthat
thedeathpenaltyisaneffectivemeasureagainstcrime andterrorism.
Eighty-fivepercentofIndia’speopleareHindu,13percentMuslim,2percentSikhand2percentChristian.Hinduteachingscanbeusedtojustifyargumentsbothforandagainstthedeathpenalty.Hinduismteachesahimsa(non-violence)andtheholyHinduscripture,theMahabharata,containspassagesagainstthedeathpenalty.However,Hinduteachingalsosaysthatdeathislimitedtothephysicalbodybecausethesoul(atman)isrebornintoanotherbodyupondeath.Intheprocessofreincarnation,humanswhohavecommittedseverecrimessufferalowerre-birth,andthereforedeathcanbringjustice.
Youareundecided.YoucouldvoteagainsttheItalianresolutionoryoucouldabstain.TalkwiththeotherAsiancountriesinthedebatesuchasBhutan,Nepal,China,IndonesiaandSingaporebeforemakingupyourmind.
Thisbriefingcardhasbeendevelopedforaneducationalresourcetobeusedintheclassroom.Thefactsaboutuseofthedeathpenaltyarecorrect,buttheargumentssuggestedmaynotreflectaccuratelythecountry’sposition.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESINdONESIAINdONESIA
Your country is:Retentionist. Forthefirsttimesince2004,noexecutionswerereportedin2009.However,atleast117peopleremainedundersentenceofdeathand10peoplewereexecutedbyfiringsquadin2008.Crimesthatcanresultinthedeathpenaltyincludedrugtrafficking,murderandterrorism. country informationIndonesiaconsistsofachainofislandsbetweenAsiaandAustralia.Ithasapopulationof230millionandtheworld’slargestMuslimpopulation. Your position in the debateYouwillarguestronglyagainstItalyandtheEUresolution.PresidentYudhoyonoisinfavourofwideningtheuseofthedeathpenalty,incontrasttotheglobaltrendtowardsabolishingthedeathpenalty,andhasfoughtagainstAustralia’spressuretoendthepractice.
YouarefuriouswiththewaythattheWestistryingasusualtointerfereintheinternalaffairsofAsiancountries.
WhatbusinessisitoftheirshowIndonesia’slegalsystemdealswithdrugtraffickers,traitorsandmurderers?SaythattheUNshouldbedealingwithrealhumanrightsquestionslikehungerandpoverty.
Morethan80percentofthepopulationareMuslim.Islamicteachingallowsthedeathpenalty,butstressesmercyandcompassion.
JointheMalaysiancaucus.
Thisbriefingcardhasbeendevelopedforaneducationalresourcetobeusedintheclassroom.Thefactsaboutuseofthedeathpenaltyarecorrect,buttheargumentssuggestedmaynotreflectaccuratelythecountry’sposition.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESISRAELISRAEL
Your country is:Abolitionist for ordinary crimes only. Thedeathpenaltyisonlycarriedoutinyourcountryinextremecircumstances,forconvictionsforgenocide,warcrimes,crimesagainsthumanity,crimesagainsttheJewishpeopleandtreasoninwartime.OnlyonepersonhasbeencivillyexecutedinthehistoryofIsrael–NazimassmurdererAdolfEichmanwhowashangedin1962. country informationThe Israeli state is situated in the Middle East and has a populationof7.2millionpeople. Your position in the debateIsrael’srareuseofthedeathpenaltyishighlyinfluencedbytheJewishfaith.UnderJewishlawintheTalmudinancienttimesthedeathpenaltywasthepunishmentfor36offencesfrommurderandrapetoidolworshipanddishonouringtheSabbathday.TheTalmudsays:‘Whoevershedsthebloodofmanbymanwillhisbloodbeshed,forinhisimagedidGodcreateman.’
However,thegreatJewishteacherMosesMaimonideswrote:‘Itisbetterandmoresatisfactorytoacquitathousandguiltypersonsthantoputasingleinnocentonetodeath.’
MostJewishscholarsandreligiousleaderstodaybelievethatthedeathpenaltyshouldremaininuse.
Youareundecidedabouthowtovote.PerhapssupporttheItalianmotion.Perhaps,althoughIsraeliseffectivelyanabolitionistcountryinpractice,youmaydecidenottovoteatall.
Thisbriefingcardhasbeendevelopedforaneducationalresourcetobeusedintheclassroom.Thefactsaboutuseofthedeathpenaltyarecorrect,buttheargumentssuggestedmaynotreflectaccuratelythecountry’sposition.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESITALYITALY
You have an important role to play in this debate. You have to present the European union motion that is also supported by other member states of the uN.
Your country is:Abolitionist for all crimes. ItalyabolishedthedeathpenaltyattheendofWorldWarIIin1947,andhasbecomealeadingnationcampaigningagainsttheuseofthedeathpenaltyroundtheworld.
country informationItalyisaEuropeancountryof59.9millionpeople. Your position in the debateItalyisstronglyagainstthedeathpenaltyandisworkingforaninternationalbanofthepractice.ItproposedtheUNmoratoriumontheDeathPenaltyin2007beforetheGeneralAssemblyoftheUnitedNations,urgingallcountriestosuspendcapitalpunishmentwithaviewtobanningit.Aftertheresolution’sapproval,Italy’sforeignministerdeclared:‘Nowwemuststartworkingontheabolitionofthedeathpenalty.’
Youaretoleadandorganisetheambassadorsofcountriesthatsupportyourmotion,andwillarguethatexecutions,howevertheyarecarriedout,arecruel,inhumananddegradingformsofpunishment,whetherbythehangman’srope(themostcommonmethod),thegun(China),poisongas(USA),lethalinjection(USA),thesword(SaudiArabia),stoning(Iran)ortheelectricchair(USA).
NinetypercentofyournationisCatholic.YougiveemphasistotheCatholicteachingofthesanctityoflife:thatGodistheLordoflifeandthathumanlifeatallitsstagesissacred.Youarguefortheuniqueworthanddignityofeachperson,ascreaturesmadeintheimageandlikenessofGod.Youalsobelieveinstewardship,thathumanbeingsarecalledtocareforlife,nottodestroyit.
Thisbriefingcardhasbeendevelopedforaneducationalresourcetobeusedintheclassroom.Thefactsaboutuseofthedeathpenaltyarecorrect,buttheargumentssuggestedmaynotreflectaccuratelythecountry’sposition.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESjAMAIcAjAMAIcA
Your country is:Retentionist. In2009,twopeopleweresentencedtodeath;therewerenoexecutions.Jamaicahaseffectivelyhadamoratorium(freeze)onhanging(themethodusedforexecution);thelastexecutiontookplacein1988.InJuly2009thePrimeMinisterdeclaredthatthegovernmentwouldhonourParliament’sdecisionin2008toretainthedeathpenalty,despitepressuretoabolishit. country informationJamaicaisanislandintheCaribbeanwithapopulationof2.7millionpeople. Your position in the debateAlthoughthedeathpenaltyissuspended,younowwantJamaicatoreintroduceit–mainlyinresponsetoyourcountry’sfrighteningmurderrateandanincreaseinviolenceagainstchildren.In2009,gangviolencereportedlyresultedin1,198deathsbetweenJanuary andSeptember.
Arguethatthedeathpenaltyistheonlyeffectivewaytostopthiscrimewave.
JamaicaisalargelyChristiancountry.Youarguethatanyonewhotakesawayasacredhumanlifeshouldalsohavetheirlifetakenaway,anditisreassuringthatnoexecutedpersonwilleverkillagain.
JointheMalaysiansinthecaucus.
Thisbriefingcardhasbeendevelopedforaneducationalresourcetobeusedintheclassroom.Thefactsaboutuseofthedeathpenaltyarecorrect,buttheargumentssuggestedmaynotreflectaccuratelythecountry’sposition.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESLEbANON LEbANON
Your country is:Retentionist. Lebanonstillretainscapitalpunishmentinlaw,andatleast41peoplewereundersentenceofdeathattheendof2009.However,thelastexecutionswerecarriedoutin2004.In2008theMinisterofJusticeproposedadraftlawtoabolishthedeathpenalty,butithadnotyetbeenapprovedbytheendof2009. country informationLebanonisasmallcountryintheMiddleEastwith4.2millionpeople. Your position in the debatePerhapsitisnowtimeforLebanontotaketheplungeandabolishthedeathpenaltyforever–orperhapsnot.In2008,theMinisterofJusticesaid,‘Sciencehasproventhatthereisnocasualrelationshipbetweencrimeandthepresenceorabsenceofthedeathpenalty.’
However,someLebaneseofficialscontinuetoadvocatethedeathpenalty,arguingitkeepslaw-abidingpeople
safe.ItisappliedtothoseconvictedofspyingforIsrael,hightreason,premeditatedmurder,oractsof‘terrorism’thatendangerstatesecurity.
Listencarefullytothedebate.FindoutwhatsomeoftheothercountriesintheMiddleEastaregoingtodo.PerhapshaveawordwiththedelegatesfromAlgeriaandAzerbaijan.PerhapsyouwillvoteforamoratoriumandsupporttheItalianmotion.Perhapsyouwillvoteagainstit.Perhapsyouwillabstainandnotcastyourvoteatall.
Thisbriefingcardhasbeendevelopedforaneducationalresourcetobeusedintheclassroom.Thefactsaboutuseofthedeathpenaltyarecorrect,buttheargumentssuggestedmaynotreflectaccuratelythecountry’sposition.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESMALAWIMALAWI
Your country is:Abolitionist in practice. InApril2007theHighCourtruleddeathsentencesonallprisonersondeathrowunconstitutional.TheCourtfoundthatthedeathpenaltyviolatedtherighttolifeandamountedtoinhumanpunishment.Asaresultthe23prisonersondeathrowwereresentenced.Thelastexecutiontookplacein1992. country informationMalawiisinSouth-EastAfricawithapopulationof 15.3million. Your position in the debatePublicopiniononthedeathpenaltyinMalawiisdivided.Somefearabolishingitwouldgiverisetoseriouscriminaloffences.Othersarguethatthedeathpenaltydoesnotdeterpeoplefromcommittingseriouscrimessowhatisthepurposeofmaintainingit?Thereareotheralternatives,includinglifeimprisonment.
MostofMalawi’scitizensareChristian.ThePresident,BinguwaMutharika,isalsoaChristian.Heisagainstthedeathpenalty.Inthepasthehascommutedcapitalsentencestolifeimprisonment,includingforthreepoliticianswhowereplottingtoassassinatehim.
Youareundecidedabouthowtovote.Possiblyabstainfromvoting.TalkwithfellowAfricans,SouthAfricaandAngola,beforemakingyourmindup.
Thisbriefingcardhasbeendevelopedforaneducationalresourcetobeusedintheclassroom.Thefactsaboutuseofthedeathpenaltyarecorrect,buttheargumentssuggestedmaynotreflectaccuratelythecountry’sposition.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESMALAYSIAMALAYSIA
You have an important job to play in this activity. You are to lead and organise the ambassadors of countries that, like yours, are against Italy’s motion.
Your country is:Retentionist. Atleast68peopleweresentencedtodeathbytheHighCourtsin2009whilethenumberofexecutionswasunknown.Crimescarryingthedeathpenaltyincludedrugtrafficking,murderandterrorism. country informationYouareaprosperouscountryinSouthEastAsiawithapopulationof27.5million. Your position in the debateTheMalaysiangovernmentisstronglyinfavourofthedeathpenalty.Indeed,peopleareconstantlyexhortingthatitsuseshouldbeextended,sayingthatitistheappropriatepunishmentforevenmorecrimes.Arguethatpotentialcriminalswillthinktwicebeforebreakingthelawforfearoflosingtheirlife.Thetakingofacriminal’slifeallowssociety
toshowthatcertaincrimeswillnotbetolerated.Moreover,onceaconvictedcriminalisexecuted,youdon’thavetoworryaboutthemescapingorrepeatingtheircrime.Youmightpointoutitcostsmoremoneytokeepmurderersinprisonservingalifesentencethanitdoestoexecutethem.
MalaysiansaremostlyMuslims.Islamisareligioninwhichlifeissacred.However,IslamiclawallowsexecutionforintentionalmurderandFasadfil-ardh(spreadingmischiefintheland).
Thisbriefingcardhasbeendevelopedforaneducationalresourcetobeusedintheclassroom.Thefactsaboutuseofthedeathpenaltyarecorrect,buttheargumentssuggestedmaynotreflectaccuratelythecountry’sposition.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESMExIcOMExIcO
Your country is:Abolitionist for all crimes. Mexicoabolishedthedeathpenaltyin2005,andhaslongbeenapowerfulvoiceininternationalforumscallingfortheabolitionofcapitalpunishment.Thelastexecutionwascarriedoutin1961. country informationMexicoisinCentralAmericaandhasapopulationof 109.6million. Your position in the debateAwaveofcrimeanddrug-relatedviolencehasreignitedthedebateonthedeathpenaltyinyourcountry.In2009,hugepostersinMexicoCitycarryingtheGreenPartylogodemandeditsreturn.Thepostersloganread:‘Becausewecareaboutyourlife–thedeathpenaltyformurderersandkidnappers’.Howeveritisunlikely,ifnotimpossible,thatitwillbereinstated.Thegovernment,churchandhumanrightsgroupsallstronglyopposeit.
Arguethatthedeathpenaltyisdiscriminatory,ieitisusedagainstthepoorpeopleandmembersofracial,ethnicandreligiousminoritycommunities.CapitalpunishmentintheUSA(andinmanyothercountries)means‘thosewhoain’tgotthecapitalgetthepunishment’.StatisticsshowthatprisonersondeathrowandthosewhogetexecutedacrosstheworldfromtheUSAtoMalaysiatendtobethepoor,thementallyillandmembersofethnicminorities.Theprisonerswhoareexecutedarenotnecessarilythosewhocommittedtheworstcrimes,butoftenthosewhoweretoopoortohireskilledlawyerstodefendthem.
JointheItaliancaucus.
Thisbriefingcardhasbeendevelopedforaneducationalresourcetobeusedintheclassroom.Thefactsaboutuseofthedeathpenaltyarecorrect,buttheargumentssuggestedmaynotreflectaccuratelythecountry’sposition.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESNEPALNEPAL
Your country is:Abolitionist for all crimes. Nepalreintroducedthedeathpenaltyinthe1980sandthenabolisheditforordinarycrimes(peacetimeoffences)in1990andforallcrimesin1997. country informationNepalisamountainouscountryinAsiawithapopulationof29.3millionpeople. Your position in the debateMostNepalipeopleareHindusandthereisalsoalargeBuddhistminority.YoumightrefertotheimportantBuddhistandHinduconceptofahimsa–non-violenceandrespectforlife.Thisimportantteachinggivesyoureasontobecompletelyagainsttheuseofthedeathpenaltyin allcases.
Nepalisemergingfromadecadeofarmedconflictandpoliticalviolence.Inyourspeechyoumightmakethepointthatthedeathpenaltysimplydoesn’tworkagainstterrorism.Terroristsarewillingtodiefortheirideas.
Executingconvictedterroristswouldonlymakethingsworse.Executionsimplyturnstheterroristintothemartyr.
JointheItaliancaucus.
Thisbriefingcardhasbeendevelopedforaneducationalresourcetobeusedintheclassroom.Thefactsaboutuseofthedeathpenaltyarecorrect,buttheargumentssuggestedmaynotreflectaccuratelythecountry’sposition.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESPOLANdPOLANd
Your country is:Abolitionist for all crimes. PolandwasaCommunistcountryformanyyearsuntil1989.Undercommunismanaverageof10peopleweresentencedtodeatheachyearbetween1956and1988,mostlyformurder.Butamoratorium(freeze)onexecutionsbeganin1989andcapitalpunishmentwasabolishedforallcrimesin1997.AnewerabeganwhenPolandjoined theEuropeanUnionin2004. country informationPolandisacountryinEasternEuropewithapopulationof38.1millionpeople. Your position in the debatePolandhassignedProtocol6oftheEuropeanConventiononHumanRights,whichrestrictstheapplicationofthedeathpenaltytotimesofwar.Polandhassigned,butnotyetratified(confirmeditwillabideby),Protocol13oftheConvention,whichcallsforthetotalabolitionofthedeathpenalty.
ThelatePresidentKaczynskisaidthatabolishingthedeathpenaltygivescriminalsadvantagesovervictims,clashingwiththeEuropeanUnionovertheissue.However,youremainanopponentofcapitalpunishment.Arguethatexecutiondoesnotworkasadeterrenttocrime(iethefearofbeingcaughtandexecuteddoesnotstopmurderersfrommurderingpeople).
Ninety-fivepercentofPolishpeopleareCatholics.Youcouldarguethatstateexecutionsjustcontinuethecycleofviolence,andfailtopromoteJesus’teachingofagape(unconditionallove).Youcouldalsoarguethattheideaofkillingsomeonebecausetheykilledsomeoneinordertoshowthatkillingpeopleiswrongmakesnosenseatall.
JointheItaliancaucus.
Thisbriefingcardhasbeendevelopedforaneducationalresourcetobeusedintheclassroom.Thefactsaboutuseofthedeathpenaltyarecorrect,buttheargumentssuggestedmaynotreflectaccuratelythecountry’sposition.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESSINgAPORESINgAPORE
Your country is:Retentionist. CapitalpunishmentisbyhanginginSingapore.Informationaboutdeathsentencesandexecutionsisverylimited.Atleastonepersonwasexecutedin2009andatleastsixwereknowntohavebeensentencedtodeath.Theactualnumberofexecutionsanddeathsentencesisbelievedtobemuchhigher. country informationSingaporeisasmallislandstateinSouthEastAsiawithapopulationof4.7millionpeople. Your position in the debateYoumightarguethatSingaporeisoneofthesafestplacesintheworldthankstothedeathpenalty.Thegovernmentstatesthatitisonlyusedinthemostseriousofcrimes,sendingastrongmessagetowould-beoffenders.ItreallyannoysyouthatWesterncountriestrytotellthepeopleofAsiawhattodoandattempttointerfereinyourinternalaffairs.Eachcountryhastherighttodecideonitsownjudicialsystem,takingintoaccountitsowncircumstances.
NearlyhalfofSingapore’speopleareBuddhists.YoucouldpointoutthattheBuddhist‘Bodhicaryavatara’authorisesviolenceifitisnecessarytopreventsuffering(ieifitactsasadeterrent,puttingotherpeopleoffcommittingseriouscrimes).Youcouldsaythatthedeathpenaltyisneededtostampoutthecrimeofdrugpeddlingthatruinsthousandsofpeople’slives.
JointheMalaysiancaucus.SeeifyoucanpersuadeotherAsiannationslikeIndiatojoinyou.
Thisbriefingcardhasbeendevelopedforaneducationalresourcetobeusedintheclassroom.Thefactsaboutuseofthedeathpenaltyarecorrect,buttheargumentssuggestedmaynotreflectaccuratelythecountry’sposition.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESSOuTh AFRIcASOuTh AFRIcA
Your country is:Abolitionist for all crimes. SouthAfricausedtobeoneoftheworld’sleadingexecutingnationsbeforeNelsonMandelabecamePresidentin1994andSouthAfricaabolishedthedeathpenaltyforallcrimesin1997. country informationSouthAfricahasapopulationof50.1millionpeople. Your position in the debateWithincreasingcrimerates,supporthasgrownforreinstatingcapitalpunishment.In2008,JacobZuma,nowthePresidentofSouthAfrica,saidhewouldre-openthedebateoncapitalpunishment.However,hecameunderfirefromhumanrightsorganisationsandthedebatehasnotbeenreopened.
SouthAfricaisastatepartytotheSecondOptionalProtocoltotheInternationalCovenantonCivilandPoliticalRights,whichaimstoabolishthedeathpenaltyglobally;re-introducingthedeathpenaltywouldgreatlydamage
itsinternationalreputation.SaythatSouthAfrica’sbrutalapartheidhistoryshowsthattooofteninnocentpeoplecanbeexecutedbythestate.
EightypercentofSouthAfricansareChristians–mostlyProtestants.YoumightquoteArchbishopDesmondTutuwhosaid:‘ToaChristianwhosebeliefsystemisrootedinforgiveness,thedeathpenaltyisunacceptable...Retribution,resentmentandrevengeleaveuswithaworldsoakedinthebloodoffartoomanyofourbrothersandsisters.Thedeathpenaltyispartofthatprocess.’
Youmightarguethatexecutionsbrutalisethoseinvolvedintheprocessandthesocietythatcarriesthemout.Itisanirrevocablepunishment,resultinginevitablyintheexecutionofpeopleinnocentofanycrime.
JointheItaliancaucus.SeeifyoucanpersuadetheMalawianambassadortojoinyou.
Thisbriefingcardhasbeendevelopedforaneducationalresourcetobeusedintheclassroom.Thefactsaboutuseofthedeathpenaltyarecorrect,buttheargumentssuggestedmaynotreflectaccuratelythecountry’sposition.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESSudANSudAN
Your country is:Retentionist. SudancarriesoutthehighestnumberofexecutionsinAfrica.BetweenJuly2008andJune2009,103peopleweresentencedtodeathbyspecialcounter-terrorismcourts.Inaddition,atleastsixpeopleweresentencedtodeathbyordinarycourtsandninewereexecuted.Capitalpunishmentisbyhanging,shootingorstoningtodeath. country informationSudanisinthenortheastofAfricaandhasapopulation of42.2million. Your position in the debateSudan’speoplearemainlyMuslim,about10percentareChristianandtherestaremostlyanimistintheirbeliefs(meaningtheyhaveaprofoundrespectforlife).YoumightpointoutthatmostSudanesestronglysupporttheargumentsintheHolyQur’aninfavourofexecutions.
Arguethatinyourcountryexecutionsareneededtostopthecrimewaveandterrorism.Societymustprotect
individuals,evenifthismeansonemustdietoprotectothers.Itistheproperpunishmentforsuchcrimesasmurder,cursingGod,smuggling,drugtrafficking,adultery,waragainstthestate,stealingcamelsandrape.
JointheMalaysiancaucus.TrytoworkalongsidetheChinese,AmericansandCubanstodefeatthemotion.SeeifyoucanpersuadeotherMuslimcountriestojoinyou.
Thisbriefingcardhasbeendevelopedforaneducationalresourcetobeusedintheclassroom.Thefactsaboutuseofthedeathpenaltyarecorrect,buttheargumentssuggestedmaynotreflectaccuratelythecountry’sposition.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
AMBASSADORBRIEFINGNOTESuSAuSA
Your country is:Retentionist. IntheUSA,statesarefreetodecideontheuseofthedeathpenalty:35of50usethedeathpenaltyand15donot.Fifty-twopeoplewereexecutedduring2009(thehighesttotalforthreeyears)bringingto1,188thetotalnumberofprisonersexecutedsincetheUSSupremeCourtliftedamoratoriumonthedeathpenaltyin1976andallowedexecutionstoresumeinJanuary1977.AminorityofUSstatescontinuetoaccountforthemajorityofexecutions:Texasexecuted24peopleduring2009.Thatsameyear,NewMexicobecamethe15thstatetooutlawthedeathpenalty. country informationTheUSAinNorthAmericahasapopulationof 314.7million. Your position in the debateDespitetheUSAshowingsomesignsofturningagainstthedeathpenalty,morestatesareinsupportofthepracticethannot.
ManyAmericansarechurch-goingChristianpeople,stronglyinfavourofthedeathpenaltyformurder.YoumightquotetheargumentsintheBibleinfavourofexecutions:Thosewhokillmustbekilled.
‘Whoevershedsmen’sblood,bymanhisbloodshallbeshed.’(Genesis9:6).
Arguethatthealternative,‘lifeimprisonment’,doesnotalwaysmeanlifeandthecriminalisreleasedandfreetooffendagain.
JoinMalaysiainthecaucus.Sidewithanyonewhosupportsthedeathpenalty,evenifitmeanscollaboratingwithChina,CubaandSudan–countriesyoudon’tnormallyseeeyetoeyewith.Seewhatpressureyoucanputontheundecidedambassadorstogetthemto supportyou.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
LESSON 2 THE ITALIAN MOTION
Motion for debate in the 65th Session of the uN general Assembly at the uN building in New York
‘ThissessionoftheUnitedNationsGeneralAssemblycallsonallmemberstatesthathavenotyetabolishedthedeathpenaltytorestrictthenumberofdeathsentences,toavoidusingexecutionswhereverpossibleandtoconsiderestablishingamoratorium(suspension)onallexecutions,withaview totheircompleteabolition.’
TobemovedbyItalyonbehalfoftheEuropeanUnionandover80otherUNmemberstates.
Motion for debate in the 65th Session of the uN general Assembly at the uN building in New York
‘ThissessionoftheUnitedNationsGeneralAssemblycallsonallmemberstatesthathavenotyetabolishedthedeathpenaltytorestrictthenumberofdeathsentences,toavoidusingexecutionswhereverpossibleandtoconsiderestablishingamoratorium(suspension)onallexecutions,withaview totheircompleteabolition.’
TobemovedbyItalyonbehalfoftheEuropeanUnionandover80otherUNmemberstates.
Motion for debate in the 65th Session of the uN general Assembly at the uN building in New York
‘ThissessionoftheUnitedNationsGeneralAssemblycallsonallmemberstatesthathavenotyetabolishedthedeathpenaltytorestrictthenumberofdeathsentences,toavoidusingexecutionswhereverpossibleandtoconsiderestablishingamoratorium(suspension)onallexecutions,withaview totheircompleteabolition.’
TobemovedbyItalyonbehalfoftheEuropeanUnionandover80otherUNmemberstates.
Motion for debate in the 65th Session of the uN general Assembly at the uN building in New York
‘ThissessionoftheUnitedNationsGeneralAssemblycallsonallmemberstatesthathavenotyetabolishedthedeathpenaltytorestrictthenumberofdeathsentences,toavoidusingexecutionswhereverpossibleandtoconsiderestablishingamoratorium(suspension)onallexecutions,withaview totheircompleteabolition.’
TobemovedbyItalyonbehalfoftheEuropeanUnionandover80otherUNmemberstates.
✃
✃
ThE ITALIAN MOTION
ThE ITALIAN MOTION ThE ITALIAN MOTION
ThE ITALIAN MOTION
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
LESSON 2 FORANDAGAINSTTHEDEATHPENALTY
✃
ARguMENTS PEOPLE uSE FOR ThE dEATh PENALTY
ARguMENTS PEOPLE uSE AgAINST ThE dEATh PENALTY
1 Capitalpunishmentistherightpunishmentforthosewhotakeawaylife–murderers,terroristsanddrugpeddlers.Thosewhohavetakenalifeshouldbekilled–alifefor alife.
2 Capitalpunishmentisadeterrent.Thefearofbeingexecutedmustsurelyputoffthecriminalsfromcommittingmurderiftheyknowthey’llfacethedeathpenaltyifcaught.
3 Onethingiscertain:noexecutedpersonwilleverkillagain.
4 Publicopinionwantsexecutions.
5 Thefamiliesofthosekilledneedjusticeandretribution(revenge).
6 Itwouldsurelycostalotmoremoneytokeepmurderersinprisonservingalifesentencethanitwouldtoexecutethem.
7 Itismorehumanetoputsomeonetodeaththantokeepthemlockedupforyears.
1 ExecutionisaviolationoftherighttolifeasproclaimedintheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRights.
2 Itisacruel,inhumananddegradingpunishment,whetherbythehangman’srope,thefiringsquad,poisongas,lethalinjection,thesword,stoningortheelectricchair.
3 Capitalpunishmentdoesnotdetercrime.AllstudiesbytheUNandothersshowthedeathpenaltydoesnotpreventcrimeanymoreeffectivelythanotherpunishments.
4 Courtscanmakemistakes.Innocentpeoplearebeingexecuted.Astudyin1987showedthat350innocentpeoplehadbeencondemnedtodeathintheUSAsince1900and23ofthemwereexecuted.
5Thestatecarryingoutthedeathpenaltymakesusallintokillers.Ifwesupportthedeathpenaltyformurder,weendupsupportingmurder,whichmakesusguiltyofhypocrisy.
6 Thedeathpenaltyisdiscriminatoryandisoftenuseddisproportionatelyagainstpeoplefrompoorbackgroundsorofparticularraces,orthosewithmentalhealthproblems.
7 Ifsomeoneisputtodeath,theyhavenochancetochangetheirlifeortocontributepositivelytosociety.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
LESSON 2 CHAIR’SBRIEFINGNOTES
The following are tips and suggestions for the teacher who is chairing the debate.
Explaintostudentsthattheinformationontheirbriefingcardsisbasedonfact,butthatsomeartisticlicencehasbeenusedtoencourageandenabledebate.AskstudentstotrytokeepthecontentsoftheirAmbassadorbriefingnotesasecret.Theyshouldcarrythesebriefingsaroundwiththemduringthecaucussotheycanbeidentifiedandhavetheirnationalflagsondisplayduringthedebate.
RemindanyonewhoisdefinitelyFORordefinitelyAGAINSTtheMotionthattheirsidewillonlywiniftheycanpersuadeenoughoftheUNDECIDEDStovotewiththem,whichtheyshoulddoduringthecaucus.
AllspeakersshouldalwaysaddresstheirremarkstotheChair.
Encourageeveryoneintheclasstosayatleastonethinginthedebate.
IfpossiblespeakersshouldusetheirownwordsratherthanreaddirectlyfromtheirAmbassadorbriefingnotes.
Keepallthespeechesdowntonomorethanaminuteorsoinlength.
Everyonegetsjustonechancetospeak,apartfromtheItalianambassador,whoi)proposestheirmotionandii)sumsupattheend.
Varythespeakersinthedebate,callingonanAmbassadorlikelytospeakFORthemotion,thenonewhoislikelytospeakAGAINSTandthenperhapsoneoftheUNDECIDED.
EncouragestudentstoputthemselvesintotheshoesoftheirAmbassadorforthisexercise,makingtheirargumentsasconvincingastheycanandpresentingtheirideaswithsome
passion(whethertheypersonallyagreewiththispositionornot).
Askallspeakerstoinclude:•theargumentssuggestedintheir
Ambassadorbriefingnotes;•anarticlefromtheUniversalDeclarationof
HumanRights(seesummaryversion);•arelevantpointfromtheFORorAGAINST
argumentsworksheet.
Whileconductingtheeventyoumayfinditusefultocomeinandoutofroletocommentonargumentsbeingputforwardandlinesandtacticsbeingusedduringthedebate.
bAckgROuNd TO ThIS MOdEL uN dEbATE
TheUNGeneralAssemblyin2007and2008calledforaglobalmoratoriumonthedeathpenaltyasafirststeptototalabolition.In2007theresolutionwasadoptedby104UNmemberstatesinfavour,54againstand29abstentions.In2008,supporthadincreased:106statesvotedinfavour,46againstand34abstained.AmnestyInternationalhopesandbelievesthattheUNGeneralAssemblyresolutions–thefirstoftheirkind–willcontinuetobeamajorinfluenceinpersuadingcountriestoabandontheiruseofcapitalpunishment.Theresolutionisnotlegallybindingbutitismorallypersuasive.AsimilarresolutionwillbeconsideredbytheThirdCommitteeoftheUNGeneralAssemblyinOctober2010.Thislessonislooselybasedonthisplanneddebate.
Seefurtherinformationonpage17ofthebooklet.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
LESSON 2 GLOSSARY
AbOLISh Toputanendtosomething.
AbOLITION Beingabolished.
AbOLITIONIST Apersonwhofavourstheabolitionofalawthattheybelievetobeharmfultosociety.
AbSTAIN Torefrainfromcastingone’svote.
AMbASSAdOR Thehighestrankingdiplomatwhorepresentstheircountry.UNAmbassadorsserveastheofficialrepresentativeoftheircountryinUNdebates.
cAucuS Apreliminarymeetingordiscussion.
cAPITAL PuNIShMENT Thedeathpenalty;punishmentbydeathforcrime.
dETERRENT Somethingthatdeters(putspeopleoff)doingsomething.
MORATORIuM Thesuspensionofanactivity(ega‘moratoriumonthedeathpenalty’isthesuspensionoftheuseofthedeathpenalty).
MOTION Aproposalformallymadetoadeliberativeassembly/decisionmakingbody.
PREMEdITATEd Donedeliberately;planned.
uNITEd NATIONS Anorganisationthatwasfoundedin1945,withtheaimtofacilitateworldwidecooperationininternationallaw,internationalsecurity,economicdevelopment,socialprogressandhumanrightsissues.Therearecurrently192memberstates(countries)includingnearlyeveryrecognisedindependentstateintheworld.
uNIvERSAL dEcLARATION OF huMAN RIghTS AstatementadoptedbytheGeneralAssemblyoftheUNin1948.Thedeclarationaimstocontributeto‘freedom,justiceandpeaceintheworld’tobeachievedbyrecognitionofandrespectforhumanrights.Theserightsaredefinedin30articles,whichincluderightssuchas‘therighttolife’and‘therighttofreedomfromtorture’.
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH 2010
LESSON 2 UNIVERSALDECLARATIONOFHUMAN RIGHTSSUMMARYVERSION
1 Weareallbornfreeandequal.Weallhaveourownthoughtsandideas.Weshouldallbetreatedinthesameway.
2 Theserightsbelongtoeverybody,whateverourdifferences.
3 Weallhavetherighttolife,andtoliveinfreedomandsafety.
4 Nobodyhasanyrighttomakeusaslave.Wecannotmakeanyoneelseourslave.
5 Nobodyhasanyrighttohurtortortureusortreatuscruelly.
6 Everyonehastherighttobeprotectedbythelaw.
7 Thelawisthesameforeveryone.Itmusttreatusallfairly.
8 Wecanallaskforthelawtohelpuswhenwearenottreatedfairly.
9 Nobodyhastherighttoputusinprisonwithoutagoodreason,tokeepusthereortosendusawayfromourcountry.
10 Ifweareputontrial,thisshouldbeinpublic.Thepeoplewhotryusshouldnotletanyonetellthemwhattodo.
11 Nobodyshouldbeblamedfordoingsomethinguntilithasbeenproved.Whenpeoplesaywedidabadthing wehavetherighttoshowitisnottrue.
12 Nobodyshouldtrytoharmourgoodname.Nobodyhastherighttocomeintoourhome,openourletters,orbotherus,orourfamily,withoutagoodreason.
13 Weallhavetherighttogowherewewanttoinourowncountryandtotravelabroadaswewish.
14 Ifwearefrightenedofbeingbadlytreatedinourowncountry,weallhavetherighttorunawaytoanothercountrytobesafe.
15 Weallhavetherighttobelongtoacountry.
16 Everygrownuphastherighttomarryandhaveafamilyiftheywantto.Menandwomenhavethesamerightswhentheyaremarried,andwhentheyareseparated.
17 Everyonehastherighttoownthingsorsharethem.Nobodyshouldtakeourthingsfromuswithoutagoodreason.
18 Weallhavetherighttobelieveinwhatwewanttobelieve,tohaveareligion,ortochangeitifwewish.
19 Weallhavetherighttomakeupourownminds,tothinkwhatwelike,tosaywhatwethink,andtoshareourideaswithotherpeople.
20 Weallhavetherighttomeetourfriendsandtoworktogetherinpeacetodefendourrights.Nobodycanmakeusjoinagroupifwedon’twantto.
21 Weallhavetherighttotakepartinthegovernmentofourcountry.Everygrownupshouldbeallowedtovotetochoosetheirownleaders.
22 Weallhavetherighttoahome,enoughmoneytoliveonandmedicalhelpifweareill.Music,art,craftandsportareforeveryonetoenjoy.
23 Everygrownuphastherighttoajob,toafairwagefortheirwork,andtojoinatradeunion.
24 Weallhavetherighttorestfromworkandrelax.
25 Weallhavetherighttoenoughfood,clothing,housingandhealthcare.Mothersandchildrenandpeoplewhoareold,unemployedordisabledhavetherighttobecaredfor.
26 Weallhavetherighttoeducation,andtofinishprimaryschool,whichshouldbefree.Weshouldbeablelearnacareer,ortomakeuseofallourskills.
27 Weallhavetherighttoourownwayoflife,andtoenjoythegoodthingsthatscienceandlearningbring.
28 Theremustbeproperordersowecanallenjoyrightsandfreedomsinourowncountryandallovertheworld.
29 Wehaveadutytootherpeople,andweshouldprotecttheirrightsandfreedoms.
30 Nobodycantakeawaytheserightsandfreedomsfromus.
ThisisasimplifiedversionoftheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRightsfromAmnestyInternationalUK. ForthefullversionoftheDeclarationsee www.un.org/en/documents/index.shtml