'Callous disregard for human life': Death penalty executions soar worldwide

Agnes Callamard: 'Importantly, it’s often those from disadvantaged backgrounds that are disproportionately affected by this callous punishment.' File picture: Cemal Yurttas/AP

The number of recorded executions across the world soared in 2022, revealing a "callous disregard for human life", Amnesty International has said.

Amnesty's annual review of the death penalty found that a total of 883 people were known to have been executed across 20 countries last year. This represented the highest figure globally since 2017, and a rise of 53% from 2021.