ACADP

 

 

 

 ACADP (Australian Coalition Against Death Penalty)

 

 

 

 

 

ACADP is a registered non-profit human rights organization with no political or religious affiliation.

  

ACADP is an Australian independent organization dedicated to total abolition of the death penalty, worldwide.

 

Founded in Melbourne Australia in June 2000, the organization acts in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in that … ‘Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.’ 

 

ACADP supports the United Nations Commission on Human Rights against the incarceration of offenders for purposes of punishment in that … ‘No one shall be subjected to torture, cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment (also known as Death Row Phenomenon/Syndrome) – that incarceration of dangerous offenders to be subject solely for the purpose of security to others.’

 

ACADP opposes the use of the death penalty in all cases, under any circumstances – unconditionally.

 

ACADP cites several reasons for this view;

  

* because the death penalty is a violation of the most fundamental universal human right – the right to life.

 

* because the death penalty is a barbaric, brutal, cruel, degrading, inhumane and uncivilised form of punishment – which has no place in a modern-day criminal justice system – such punishment is prohibited under international human rights law.

 

* because the death penalty is fallible – the possibility of error of judgement can never be excluded – innocent people have been executed in the past.

 

* because the death penalty is extremely corruptible – some are "chosen" to be executed while others are not.

 

* because capital punishment actually reduces the value of human life – is overwhelmingly biased against political opponents, foreign nationals, racial, ethnic and religious minorities, child offenders, the mentally ill, the mentally retarded, the disadvantaged and the poor.

 

* because the death penalty has a brutalising effect on the community, actually inspiring acts of violence or copycat crimes and thereby diminishing rather than increasing the deterrent effect.

 

* because the use of the death penalty creates more victims in society – the innocent family members and loved ones of the executed.

 

ACADP is staffed by dedicated human rights activist volunteers, promoting the development of human rights values and campaigning for total abolition of the death penalty, worldwide.

 

ACADP aims at educating society of the facts and fallacies associated with the use of capital punishment.

 

ACADP advertises and promotes educational information about capital punishment around the world. The organization conducts correspondence with both Australian and international government/political leaders, various international human rights organizations and the worldwide media.

 

ACADP is involved in research, gathers and divulges information, news and updates concerning the use of the death penalty, worldwide.

 

ACADP campaigns by various non-violent methods for the total abolition of the death penalty around the world.

 

ACADP raises awareness by educating the public with a special focus on the youth of society (the next generation of political leaders), on every factual issue surrounding the use of state-sanctioned killing around the world. In addition, the organization guards against calls for the re-introduction of capital punishment in Australia.

 

Australia’s last judicial killing was on February 3, 1967. The hanging of Ronald Ryan at Pentridge Prison aroused a storm of public anger and protests, which would result in total abolition. Australia officially abolished capital punishment nationwide under The Crimes (Death Penalty Abolition) Amendment Act 1985. Under Commonwealth law the death penalty was abolished in 1973 by Section 4 of The Death Penalty Abolition Act 1973.

 

Today, a minority of Australian right-wing individuals and religious extremists are calling for the re-introduction of capital punishment. Furthermore, over the last few years Australian politicians’ comments and opinions on the death penalty have weakened and altered Australia’s principled opposition to the use of capital punishment.

 

The Australian Government has publicly stated it opposes the death penalty for Australians only.

Discrimination ??? These comments have surely not gone unnoticed internationally.

 

Is it now only a matter of time before capital punishment is re-introduced in Australia?

 

ACADP OBJECTIVES

 

* to promote awareness by educating society of the facts and fallacies surrounding capital punishment around the world via researched data, statistics, the methods, the high costs, the intentions and results of the death penalty, the vengeance associated with the use of the death penalty, the abuses, corruption, failures, flaws and inconsistencies of the death penalty around the world, and the philosophies behind the abolition of capital punishment in Australia.

 

* to promote the values of freedom, dignity, equality, and respect for all human life, whereby all individuals of the world have a right to.

 

* to encourage the public and the media to speak out against the brutality and vengeance of the death penalty.

 

* to promote restorative justice with bringing about reconciliation and healing by ensuring that the views of all parties are heard - the victim, the offender and members of the community.

 

* to add voice to other international human rights organizations and individuals that support the abolition of the death penalty, worldwide.

 

* to act against cruel, unusual punishment and inhumane treatment of death row prisoners, regardless of their race, colour, sex, language, culture, health, religion and/or beliefs, political or other opinion, national, ethnic and/or social origin, property, birth or other status, guilt or innocence, and regardless of their alleged crime.

 

* to acknowledge the emotional pain and suffering of victims of crime, the family and loved ones of murder victims.

 

* to work in peace and understanding with pro-death penalty individuals.

 

 

 

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