Activists Call for Changes to Death Penalty Rules That Reduce Obstacles

TaiwanPlus News

Opponents of the death penalty are upset at newly revised rules on executions. They've launched a petition calling for the justice ministry to make changes to secure death row inmates' rights.

Transcript

00:00The death penalty remains one of the most divisive human rights issues in a country

00:04that prides itself on human rights.

00:06Today, opponents of the death penalty, legal scholars and activists, have gathered to protest

00:11what they say is a recent step in the wrong direction.

00:15They're upset about changes to the regulations for executing the death penalty that took

00:19effect in April, and they've gathered at the legislature to demand a new revision.

00:24They say the changes were introduced too quickly and don't meet constitutional court demands

00:28about legal process and the protection of lives.

00:31They say the changes may even violate Taiwan's commitment to abide by UN covenants on human

00:35rights.

00:36But most of all, they say the changes encourage a more arbitrary use of the death penalty,

00:41and make executions harder to stop.

00:43The法務部 announced the rule of the court in April 16th.

00:47The law of the court announced the rule of the court, and the law of the court made the

00:51rule of the court.

00:52The court made the rule of the court, and the court made the rule of the court, and the

00:55court made the rule of the court.

00:56They say this puts potentially innocent lives at risk.

01:13The total number of people exonerated from wrongful death sentences in Taiwan has reached

01:17seven.

01:18They are also confused by what they say is a sharp about face from a justice ministry that

01:2315 years ago had vowed to phase out the death penalty.

01:30But while opponents of the death penalty are vocal, they are a minority.

01:49A survey by human rights groups released last September found public support for the death

01:53penalty to be above 80 percent.

01:55But these activists, academics, and lawyers say this shouldn't sway political figures.

02:01That may be a hard sell, though.

02:03Though these activists are meeting at the legislature, there are no lawmakers with them to voice support,

02:08or even give their own point of view.

02:10Taiwan Plus reached out to the justice ministry, who said the rules do not violate Taiwan's criminal

02:14procedure code, or the constitutional court's September 2024 ruling on the death penalty.

02:20It said the changes provide prisoners with the strictest procedural safeguards.

02:24In all, 109 people have signed a petition to the justice ministry calling for it to reconsider

02:30its latest rules surrounding the death penalty.

02:33However much public support the death penalty may enjoy, they feel this is the only way for

02:37Taiwan to truly become a country that lives up to the values it preaches.

02:40Fu Hua Hong and John Van Trieste in Taipei for Taiwan Plus.

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