As the world advances in the fields of technology and medicine, in many respects human rights have fallen behind. Amnesty International has recently released a study claiming the global rate of executions has peaked to the highest level since 2015. This past year, 1153 people were killed in 16 countries across the globe, which is a 30% increase from 2022 figures.
According to the report, the largest increase in executions has occurred primarily in the Middle East; the United States, however, continues to contribute more to the total number of executions than the entirety of Western Europe and Commonwealth Countries combined. The state of Missouri executed four individuals last year, and is on pace to execute the same number this year as well. Missouri’s next execution, that of David Hosier, is scheduled for June 11, and the Missouri Catholic Conference is organizing a respectful protest outside the Missouri governor’s office at noon on that day.
To read further details of the Amnesty International report, click here to access the Vatican News website.