Abolition of the death penalty has been one of the core human rights issues discussed in Taiwan in recent years. This issue transcends party lines and while there has been much discussion, there has been little consensus, and a great deal of emotion.
Capital punishment touches on core moral values regarding justice and the dignity of human life. More than a decade of effort by non-governmental groups has brought the issue into the public discourse, and it comes up on TV talk shows and in newspaper editorial pages. Virtually every citizen has his or her own opinion and reasons for it.
But there are still strong reservations in society as a whole about abolishing the death penalty, and people are divided. According to an opinion poll conducted in July of 2012 by a private research organization on behalf of the Ministry of Justice, 76.7% expressed opposition to abolishing the death penalty, and 85% said that its abolition would adversely affect public order. But every time the MOJ carries out an execution, it has a sobering effect and creates a somber atmosphere in society.
Capital punishment again became a high-profile issue in February 2012 as a result of the arrival in Taiwan of international human rights experts invited to review Taiwan’s 2012 human rights reports. We have conducted exclusive interviews with two Taiwanese experts, one advocating abolition of the death penalty, and the other advocating its retention.