Death penalty and the crime rates in the Democratic Republic of Congo (1996-2008)

Abstract

The study analyses the impact of death penalty on human rights and crime rate in the DRC. It covers the period from 1996 to 2008. The research is oriented to establishing the extent to which death penalty application has reduced crime rate since its inception in the DRC. The study also weigh ups the advantages and disadvantages of abolishing death penalty and examns appropriate penalties that might address current human rights abuse in the DRC. The study relied on descriptive approach to collect the necessary data. Several documents were analysed to enable the study to draw lessons and recommendations . The main findings of the study are that, the application of death penalty in the DRC has not reduced the crime rate during the period under study. Death penalty and its administration in criminal justice have been and remain a violation of human rights in the DRC. The study also asserts that life imprisonment is an appropriate punishment that should replace death penalty. The study concludes by identifying the bottlenecks that hinder the swift abolition of death penalty such as absence of firm legal framework at national, regional and International levels. Thus The final chapter suggest recommendations oriented to remedy the situation. These include the address need to Human Rights abuses, dictatorial regimes, Civil War and External military attacks and promoting respect for human rights commencing with reviewing national legal framework in DRC.