We welcome the unanimous decision by Viet Nam's Parliament on Wednesday to end the death penalty for offences including espionage, embezzlement and illegal transportation of narcotic substances. These legislative changes, which are due to come into effect on 1 July, will reduce the number of offences for which the death penalty can be applied from 18 to 10.
We urge the authorities in Viet Nam to build on this historic vote by taking further steps toward abolishing the death sentence completely, for all crimes, and in the meantime, we encourage the authorities to implement a moratorium on the use of the death penalty for the remaining offences punishable by death.
The death penalty is inherently incompatible with the fundamental right to life and the right to live free from torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment. Evidence suggests it has little, if any, effect in deterring crime.
