Denial of right to life

Nature

Denial of right to life refers to the violation or disregard of an individual’s fundamental right to exist, as recognized in international human rights law. This problem manifests through acts such as extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, genocide, and state-sanctioned executions without due process. Denial of this right undermines human dignity, security, and justice, often occurring in contexts of conflict, authoritarian regimes, or systemic discrimination. Addressing this issue is central to upholding the rule of law and protecting other basic human rights, as the right to life is foundational to all civil, political, and social freedoms.

Background

The denial of the right to life emerged as a global concern in the aftermath of World War II, when systematic atrocities and state-sanctioned killings prompted the inclusion of this right in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Subsequent decades saw its significance underscored by international tribunals and human rights organizations, as patterns of extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, and genocides highlighted persistent violations and the urgent need for robust international safeguards.

Claim

The right to life is the fundamental right of human beings and all other rights make sense only in so far as the right to life is respected. The fundamental reason for retention of the death penalty by some countries is it is a deterrent for those who might attack life and the property of the State. The fact, however, is that in countries where the death penalty has existed for centuries, crimes against life and property has not diminished. As regards the State security argument, the State might well confuse the security of society with the security of the group currently in power, namely, the Government of the day.

Counter-claim

The so-called “denial of right to life” is vastly overstated and hardly a pressing issue in today’s world. Most societies have robust legal systems that protect basic rights, making such denials rare exceptions rather than the norm. Focusing on this topic distracts from more urgent, widespread concerns. Elevating it to a major problem is unnecessary alarmism, as the vast majority of people’s right to life is already well-protected and respected.