Capital Punishment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 3

Capital Punishment - Essay Example It is very clear from the arguments mentioned above regarding the violation of human rights that capital punishment is in fact a cruel way to punish a criminal. Deterrence is one of the most common arguments which are used to justify capital punishment. The question that lies in this argument is whether capital punishment has been successful in creating deterrence and has lowered the crime rate. According to these statistics five countries with highest criminal killing rate are Jamaica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Trinidad Tobago and Lesotho, these countries do have a legal system of capital punishment and even then the homicide rate in these countries is 46.6 murders per 100,000 people while on the other hand five countries that have abolished death-penalty and have highest average homicide rate of 41.3 murders per 100,00 people include Honduras, Venezuela, Columbia, South Africa and Ecuador (O'Leary, 2011). These statistics show that capital punishment has failed in its purpose of creating deterrence as countries with capital punishment have higher homicide rates. Further to prove the failure of capital punishment as a deterrent is what a lieu tenant in Kansas had to say about this subject, â€Å"I have never heard a murderer say they thought about death penalty as consequence of their actions prior to committing their crime† (Ruff). When shed light on the topic of capital punishment and deterrence it can be seen very clearly that it has failed to create deterrence and lower crime rate. ... The question that lies in this argument is whether capital punishment has been successful in creating deterrence and has lowered the crime rate. According to these statistics five countries with highest criminal killing rate are Jamaica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Trinidad Tobago and Lesotho, these countries do have a legal system of capital punishment and even then the homicide rate in these countries is 46.6 murders per 100,000 people while on the other hand five countries that have abolished death-penalty and have highest average homicide rate of 41.3 murders per 100,00 people include Honduras, Venezuela, Columbia, South Africa and Ecuador (O'Leary, 2011). These statistics show that capital punishment has failed in its purpose of creating deterrence as countries with capital punishment have higher homicide rates. Further to prove the failure of capital punishment as a deterrent is what a lieutenant in Kansas had to say about this subject, â€Å"I have never heard a murderer say they thought about death penalty as consequence of their actions prior to committing their crime† (Ruff). When shed light on the topic of capital punishment and deterrence it can be seen very clearly that it has failed to create deterrence and lower crime rate. Looking at the increasing homicide rates one can wonder if death penalty is not a good solution then what else would provide justice to a person who’s closed one has been killed or justice for the person you cold bloodedly killed that person. Well to look closely at the whole process of punishment there are many other ways that would serve as a better punishment than capital punishment. Life in prison without parole will have to be a suitable punishment for capital crimes as it will make the criminal realize that he or

International law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

International law - Essay Example ........................................................................................ 6 State Practice...................................................................................................... 7 Hierarchy of sources........................................................................................... 8 International trade and development.................................................................. 8 Conclusion...................................................................................................................... 10 References...................................................................................................................... 11 Main Sources of International Law Introduction International law is the primary governing authority in the management of international affairs. It includes laws and provisions which indicate standards by which states can interact with each other. These provisions also provide processes which are mandated for states to follow in relation to territorial, political, social, and economic relations. The commonly known source of international law includes the legal provisions passed by the United Nations and its General Assembly. However, other laws also make up the overall international statutes which help ensure the peaceful and efficient relations of states and other international actors. Although these statutes are often difficult to implement due to the inherent independence of states, sanctions are nevertheless forthcoming for violators. This paper shall outline and explain the main sources of international law. It will evaluate these sources in terms of their significance and importance in promoting the growth and development of international business and trade. This study will initially discuss the different sources of international law. An evaluation of these sources shall also be carried out and associated with the development of international business and trade. This paper will be discussed in order to provide an academic evaluation of international laws and provisions with the end goal of guiding the future evaluation of international activities and actions of states and business entities. Body Overview of sources of international law The sources of international law would include the materials and provisions where the standards and principles managing states and international actors are established (Jennings and Watts, 1992). These sources are based on various political and legal principles. In the 19th century, the concept of pacta sunt servanda was recognized, mostly as a means of limiting sovereign power and authority (Jennings and Watts, 1992). This homogeneous perspective of international law was apparent in the 1920 Statute for the Permanent Court of International Justice, and further specified under Article 38(1) of the 1948 provisions on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) (Malanczuk, 1997). Article 38(1) is acknowledged to be the most enco mpassing provision indicating the sources of international law (Koskenniemi, 2000). This article calls for the International Court to use international conventions which are expressly acknowledged by other states and international customs as general practices supported by the law. To prevent non liquet, where no law would apply, the article also mentions that general principles used by the courts are those which have long been supported and used by civilized countries (Koskenniemi, 2000). Since states are the ones which give their consent and which