Worldwide executions doubled in 2001

The number of people officially executed around the world doubled in 2001.

Over 3,000 people were executed in 31 countries.

The figures released at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, show executions jumped by more than 100% compared with 1,457 executions in 2000.

It is the highest annual figure since 1996, and the second highest for 20 years.

Amnesty International attributes the increase mainly to intensified death penalty use in China after the launch of a national "strike hard" anti-crime campaign.

The human rights group says between April and July 2001 China executed at least 1,781 people - more than the total number of people executed in the rest of the world in the previous three years. By the year-end China had executed at least 2,468 people.

However, despite the leap in executions in 2001, Amnesty International notes there has also been significant progress towards abolition.

By the end of the year 111 countries had abolished the death penalty in law or practice, three more than at the end of the previous year. Consequently, a small number of countries have accounted for a very large proportion of recent judicial killings.

Stressing that the figures only include cases known to the organisation, Amnesty International is urging the UNCHR to pass a strong resolution reiterating its call for an immediate worldwide moratorium on executions.

"The death penalty is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment and a violation of the right to life. Protecting the right to life is an international responsibility," it stated.