Zašto je važna borba protiv smrtne kazne?

Dr. sc. Ivan Šimonović, profesor Pravnog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Trg Republike Hrvatske 14, 10 000 Zagreb; veleposlanik, stalni predstavnik pri Stalnoj misiji Republike Hrvatske u Ujedinjenim narodima, 820 Second Avenue, 19th Fl., New York, N.Y. 10017, Sjedinjene Američke Države; ivan.simonovic@mvep.hr; ORCID ID: orcid.org/0000-0003-2209-8953

Sažetak
Premda je do relativno nedavno globalno kretanje u smjeru demokracije i ljudskih prava te napuštanja smrtne kazne izgledalo kao zavojita, ali jednosmjerna ulica, danas je očito da više nije tako. Premda brojke još ne upućuju na širenje smrtne kazne, jačanje autoritarnosti država i slabljenje ljudskih prava upućuju na oprez. Rezultati empirijskih istraživanja osnažuju tradicionalne argumente protiv smrtne kazne (nevino osuđeni, arbitrarnost i diskriminacija u primjeni, protivnost ljudskim pravima), a oslabljuju argumente koji se najčešće ističu njoj u prilog (odvraćajući učinci, pravda za žrtve). Također, upućuju i na neke nove argumente protiv smrtne kazne: negativni učinak na nevine treće osobe te povezanost između smrtne kazne i autoritarnosti. Borba protiv smrtne kazne važna je kao dio šireg mozaika zaštite ljudskih prava svakog pojedinca, ali i borbe za karakter društava u kojima će živjeti naše potomstvo.

Ključne riječi: smrtna kazna; ljudska prava; suverenost; autoritarnost; žrtve

Hrčak ID: 244574

URI: https://hrcak.srce.hr/244574

Stranice: 213-250

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Why Fight Against the Death Penalty Matters?

Ivan Šimonović, Ph. D., Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Zagreb, Trg Republike Hrvatske 14, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia; Ambassador, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of the Republic of Croatia to the United Nations, 820 Second Avenue, 19th Fl., New York, N.Y. 10017, U. S. A.; ivan.simonovic@mvep.hr; ORCID ID: orcid.org/0000-0003-2209-8953

Summary
Evidence clearly indicates that there is a long-term trend of moving away from the death penalty. Although the death penalty is still not forbidden by the international law, the international legal framework increasingly obliges states to keep on moving away from it. However, current trends of strengthening of authoritarianism and weakening of human rights threaten to put in danger these achievements.
The results of recent empirical researches strengthen traditional arguments against the death penalty: wrongful convictions do occur in practice, arbitrariness and discrimination in its implementation are widespread, and it is (almost) impossible to execute a person without violating some human rights. In the same time, they weaken the arguments traditionally used in favour of retention: not all families of victims want such a revenge (and the ones who want it, mostly end up frustrated) and there is no reliable evidence that the death penalty deters crime.
In addition, they point to some new arguments against the death penalty. When compared to other forms of punishment, the death penalty disproportionally affects the mental health and well-being of innocent third persons: family members of those convicted, as well as participants of criminal proceedings or executions, such as prosecutors, judges, lawyers and prison staff. It also affects society as whole. Author’s brief, evidence based comparison between countries’ level of democracy and their attitude towards the death penalty, clearly demonstrates high correlation between the death penalty and authoritarianism.
Experience shows that information and the role of leadership are critical factors for moving away from the death penalty. The more information on the death penalty, the less people support it (a test involving Zagreb law school students confirmed this hypothesis). Leaders who are democratically oriented and whose politics is value based, are the most likely to support moving away from the death penalty. Fight against the death penalty is important for promotion and protection of human rights of every individual, as well as for the democratic future of our societies.

Keywords: death penalty; human rights; sovereignty; authoritarianism; victims

Hrčak ID: 244574

URI: https://hrcak.srce.hr/244574

Pages: 213-250