Concern over death penalty will grow in Asia-Pacific

Outlook

The World Coalition against the Death Penalty, comprising human rights organisations and other groups, will on October 10 mark its annual World Day Against the Death Penalty.

The commemoration comes as several countries in the Asia-Pacific region are attracting increased scrutiny for their policies on capital punishment. Over 60% of people known to be under sentence of death are in East, South-east or South Asia. China is thought to be the world’s leading executioner.

The Philippines is close to restoring the death penalty, although it is unclear whether this policy has popular support, and Sri Lanka may resume executions.

Impacts

• Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court, which in July suspended all execution warrants, may prevent restoration of the death penalty. 
• In the Philippines, restoring the death penalty will face more resistance in the Senate than the House, which backed the measure in 2017.
• Brunei will struggle to repair the reputational damage done following the introduction of its new penal code, with tourism likely to suffer.