The death penalty is the ultimate cruel and unusual punishment. "Every execution increases the suffering in society and multiplies the victims of violence," says Amnesty International. Minorities and the poor are disproportionately sentenced to death. Last year there were 1,591 known executions in 25 countries -- 26 percent fewer than in 2005, according to Amnesty. But many executions are never publicised, remaining state secrets. The true annual number of executions may be as high as 8,000. More than 90 percent of the recorded executions took place in six countries: China, Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Sudan and the U.S. Two countries executed child offenders in 2006: Iran (4) and Pakistan (1). Today, 19,000 to 24,000 people are believed to be facing execution on death row.

But the world is moving towards the abolition of the death penalty. New technologies, such as DNA tests, are proving innocent people have been sentenced to death and helping to convince countries to abandon capital punishment. Some 128 countries have already either abolished or placed a moratorium on executions. More than 30 have introduced bans in the last 10 years. Sometime in 2007 the UN General Assembly is expected to vote on an Italian initiative for a worldwide moratorium on executions. IPS is reporting these developments and keeping the abolition debate running.