Skip to main content arrow-down arrow-tail-right arrow-triangle-right calendar camera compass download email eye facebook flag mail phone pin play send square-right tag twitter youtube badge message

International Human Rights Day 2016

  • News
  • 9 Dec 2016

This Saturday, 10th December, marks the 68th anniversary of the adoption of theUniversal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

The UDHR affirms the inherent dignity and worth of human life, and declares that all people are entitled to certain rights, simply as a consequence of being human.

This International Human Rights Day the UN is asking people to stand up for someone else’s rights. We are reminded that the treatment and protections we expect to be afforded to us may not be available to others, and that certain people, because of their background, their status or their circumstances, are especially vulnerable to human rights abuses.

Our experience has shown us that it is frequently the most disadvantaged and ill-equipped to defend themselves that end up facing the harshest penalties under the law. Through our legal work and advocacy the Death Penalty Project works to protect the rights of individuals who are most in need of support.

For instance, over the past year we have continued to support foreign nationals on death row in Malaysia, working closely with local lawyers and the diplomatic community to ensure these prisoners are not left without proper legal representation. We have also acted on behalf of juvenile offenders, recognising the right of children to special treatment and protection. In October 2016, the murder conviction of Bahamian juvenile Shavargo Mcphee was overturned following concerns about his treatment in police custody. Aged 17 at the time, McPhee confessed after he had been denied food, received no legal advice and prevented from speaking to a parent for over 31 hours.

In 2016 we also continued to promote better understanding of mental health issues in sentencing and to uphold the rights of those with mental illness. In May we took the case of two Trinidadian prisoners Lester Pitman and Neil Hernandez to the Privy Council to challenge the imposition of the death sentence on those with an intellectual disability.

In the coming year we will carry on acting on behalf of those who are least able to protect themselves and continue our work to restrict the use of the death penalty around the world.

Latest news

“Serious breach of procedural fairness” - excessive manslaughter sentence quashed in The Bahamas
Read More
Ghana Web: Alban Bagbin praised for repeal of death penalty
Read More
IBAHRI commends abolition of the death penalty - Ghana
Read More
CLA Statement: Commending the Zambian and Ghanaian Governments for Abolishing the Death Penalty
Read More
The Week: Ghana abolishes the death penalty
Read More
The Guardian: Ghana abolishes death penalty, with expected reprieve for 176 condemned prisoners
Read More
DPP INTERVIEW: Francis-Xavier Sosu, the Ghanaian MP whose private member’s Bills have abolished the death penalty in Ghana
Read More
DPP interview with TRT - "Why are executions on the rise in a number of countries?"
Read More
Jurist: Ghana Parliament votes to end death penalty
Read More
The Washington Post: Ghana votes to remove the death penalty, calling it sign of ‘inhumane’ society
Read More
NGO welcomes abolition of the Death Penalty in Ghana
Read More
BBC News: Ghana Parliament votes to abolish death penalty
Read More
PRESS RELEASE: A Huge Win for Human Rights - Ghana Abolishes the Death Penalty
Read More
Ghana abolishing death penalty is a huge win for human rights – DPP
Read More
THE CONVERSATION AFRICA: It’s time for Ghana to enshrine its respect for the right to life – by abolishing the death penalty
Read More
NEW Op-ed: It’s time for Ghana to enshrine its respect for right to life – by abolishing death penalty
Read More
“Another instance where the justice system has failed a person”: Privy Council recognises multiple failures in Jamaica’s appeal processes
Read More
CLA Support Death Penalty Abolition Advocacy in Ghana
Read More
VIDEO: Privy council quashes convictions after man spends 12 years in jail
Read More

Stay up-to-date with our work