The death penalty and human rights

Abstract

人权是每一个人都应实际享有的权利，是一个具体内容具有时间上的演进性和空 间上多元性的概念；死刑的消亡是历史的必然，但在我国，死刑目前仍然是保护普通 公民基本人权必不可少的措施；通过正确地理解现行刑法的规定，完全可能在5-10年 内将死刑的实际适用减少90%；随着社会矛盾的缓解，我国也能在可预见的将来实际 停止死刑的适用，促使死刑的消亡。 关键词: 死刑 人权 刑法 罪行极其严重 Human rights are those rights that all human beings should enjoy in reality. The concept is one whose concrete content has evolved over time and diversified across space. While the disappearance of the death penalty is a historical necessity, in China it remains a necessary measure to protect the basic human rights of ordinary citizens. A correct understanding of the provisions of the present Criminal Law would make it entirely possible for us to reduce the actual application of death penalty by 90% in five to ten years. With the easing of social conflict, China may really be able to cease using the death penalty in the foreseeable future and thereby facilitate its disappearance.