The death penalty violates the right to life. It is the ultimate cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. It has no place in a modern criminal justice system.

An execution, just like torture, involves a deliberate assault on a prisoner. Even so-called 'humane' methods such as lethal injection can entail excruciating suffering.

Capital punishment is irrevocable. All judicial systems make mistakes, and as long as the death penalty persists, innocent people will be executed. 

It is also discriminatory and is often used disproportionately against the poor, the powerless and the marginalized, as well as against people whom repressive governments want to eliminate. 

The death penalty does not deter crime more than other punishments. In Canada the homicide rate has fallen by 40 per cent since 1975; the death penalty was abolished for murder in 1976. 

International human rights treaties prohibit courts sentencing anyone who was under 18 years old at the time of the crime to death, or executing them. But a small number of countries continue to execute child offenders, violating their obligations under international law.

The Competition

For the first time of its kind and one of many coming, Amnesty International organizes best blog competition against death penalty. This competition aims to demonstrate ideas and positions for the abolition of the death penalty. Share your thoughts, present your believes to public make them debatable with your friends.
What is the competition?

The completion is very simple. Write a post that demonstrates your opinion against death penalty, share it with other bloggers and at the same time it can be used as a tool to mobilize youth to this cause.
What are the conditions?
Create your own blog at any of the available websites
Your blog should make reference to Amnesty International-Morocco.

. To consider your blog, it should be respectful to Amnesty International principles.

. Any blog containing racist comments or advocating to violence will be discarded.

Winning criteria:

1- Your blog should be active (high rate of participations).
2- Having links referring to important documentation.
3- Creativity is the key to a winning blog.

When is the deadline?

The competition will end on the 10th October 2009.

Eligibility:

All youth (aged between 18 - 25) resident in North Africa and Middle East

What will you get in return?

Three interesting prizes will be given at the end of the competition.
1st prize: Laptop
2nd prize: Mobile Phone
3rd prize: Degital Camera.
* Your blog will be advertised at the official website of Amnesty International.
* You will be a member of Amnesty International.
Most important prize is what you did. You contributed in the creation of a world aware of the cruelty of the death penalty and you mobilized many people by the contribution of internet users.

Your blog can be in one of these four languages Arabic, French, or English. For any further questions do not hesitate to contact me at otmanetaoufiq@gmail.com