Right to Life
Core Philosophy
The right to life is the most fundamental foundation of all human rights. Taiwan still retains the death penalty and has successively carried out executions. The Judicial Reform Foundation believes that regardless of the ultimate direction of criminal policy, the due process and transparency of capital punishment are unavoidable demands at present.
"Abolishing the death penalty is not condoning criminals, but refusing to let the state respond to killing with killing. True justice cannot be built upon the extinction of another life."
— Taiwan Alliance to End the Death PenaltyThe core issues we focus on include: Can the death penalty effectively deter crime? How can the risk of wrongful convictions be prevented? Do execution procedures comply with the strictest standards of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)? And in the face of the grief of victims and society, are there more restorative alternative choices?
Three Key Dimensions of Concern
Procedural Justice
Does the execution comply with statutory procedures? Are there minimum safeguards such as the presence of legal counsel, notification of family members, and psychological evaluations? Have all avenues of relief been exhausted prior to execution?
Alignment with International Human Rights
Pursuant to Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, states should restrict the application of the death penalty to the "most serious crimes" and continuously strive toward its abolition.
Exploring Alternatives
In the process of abolishing the death penalty, how can victims' families be comforted? How can society's expectations for public safety be met? How should alternative systems such as life imprisonment be designed?
Important Statements and Selected Articles
Related Organizations and Resources
Taiwan Alliance to End the Death Penalty (TAEDP) is a civil organization dedicated to abolishing the death penalty over the long term, and the JRF is one of its co-advocacy partners. To learn more about arguments and international information regarding the abolition of the death penalty, please visit the official website of the TAEDP: www.taedp.org.tw
Amnesty International releases a global death penalty report annually, tracking execution and abolition trends across countries: amnesty.org (English)
Last Edited: 2026-04-28
2025
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