HRW. CHINA SHOULD ISSUE MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS BEFORE OLYMPICS

October 9, 2007: China should impose a moratorium on all executions as a goodwill gesture before the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Human Rights Watch said. “During the moratorium the Chinese government should sharply reduce the number of crimes eligible for the death penalty, make public the number of people executed and awaiting execution, and institute changes in trial and appeal procedures to ensure that they meet international minimum standards of fairness.”
“As the world focuses on China’s poor human rights record before the Olympics, the Chinese government could avoid further embarrassment by making this bold step,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
“The reported decrease in the number of executions is welcome, but that is no substitute for full transparency, fair trials, adequate defense counsel, and judicial independence,” said Adams. “Because of structural deficiencies in the conduct of trials in China, no one executed in China today receives a fair trial in line with international standards.”
The Chinese criminal justice system recognizes neither the presumption of innocence nor the right to remain silent, and places sharp limits on defence counsel and the rights of the accused. Torture to obtain confessions remains prevalent. (Sources: Human Rights Watch, 08/10/2007)