The Incompatibility of Capital Punishment with Contemporary International Human Rights: A Comparative Legal Case for Abolition

The paper analyzes capital punishment through multiple analytical lenses, including historical development, questions of proportionality and fairness, execution methods, alternative sanctions, penological objectives, and compatibility of capital punishment with fundamental human rights within international legal frameworks. Using comparative legal methodology across various jurisdictions, the study evaluates capital punishment against established international standards. The research addresses four key questions: compatibility with modern human rights standards (particularly the right to life); effectiveness as a deterrent; comparative advantages of alternative punishments; and emerging trends in international legal practice. The findings reveal that capital punishment creates fundamental tension with human rights protection, treating human life not as inviolable but as subject to state jurisdiction. Research identifies a clear international trend toward restricting capital punishment and adopting alternative sanctions that better align with human dignity principles. Modern international law increasingly encourages states to abolish the death penalty in favor of alternatives compatible with human dignity and international human rights standards.