As of 2021, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Yemen, and Pakistan have laws that allow for the execution of children. However, it is important to note that international law prohibits the death penalty for anyone who was under 18 years old at the time their crime was committed.
What is the minimum age of criminal responsibility in different countries?
The minimum age of criminal responsibility varies across different countries. In the United States, for example, many states do not have a minimum age of criminal responsibility and allow children as young as 6 years old to be charged with a crime. In other countries, such as the United Kingdom and Canada, the minimum age is 10 years old. Some countries have set the minimum age even higher; in Germany it is 14 years old and in Italy it is 16 years old. It’s important to note that these laws are constantly changing so it’s best to check with local authorities for current information.
Is capital punishment legal for minors anywhere in the world?
No, capital punishment for minors is considered a violation of human rights and is banned by international law. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child prohibits the execution of anyone who was under 18 years old at the time they committed a crime.
How many countries have ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children?
As of March 2021, a total of 196 countries have ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children.
Which countries have executed juvenile offenders since 2005?
According to Amnesty International, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen have executed juvenile offenders since 2005. However, I should note that the use of the death penalty for juveniles is widely considered a violation of international human rights law.
have any children been sentenced to death and later proven innocent?
Yes, unfortunately there have been cases of children who were sentenced to death and later proven innocent. The most famous case is probably that of George Stinney Jr., a 14-year-old African American boy who was executed in South Carolina in 1944 for the murder of two white girls. In 2014, a judge threw out his conviction, stating that he did not receive a fair trial and that his constitutional rights had been violated. There have been other cases as well where individuals who were sentenced to death as juveniles were later exonerated due to DNA evidence or other factors.
Can international law protect children from capital punishment?
Yes, international law can protect children from capital punishment. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child prohibits the imposition of the death penalty on anyone who was under 18 at the time of their offense. Additionally, international human rights law considers capital punishment applied to anyone below 18 years old as a grave violation, and countries that have ratified this convention are obligated to comply with its provisions. Therefore, it’s illegal to execute or sentence a child to death penalty in any country that has ratified this convention.