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 aspects of human existence and societal development.

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 international community to enshrine this right in the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Over subsequent decades, reports of extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, and genocides worldwide have heightened awareness, leading to international treaties and monitoring bodies dedicated to addressing and documenting violations of this fundamental human right.

Incidence

Denial of the right to life remains a pervasive issue, with thousands of individuals worldwide subjected to extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and state-sanctioned violence each year. This problem affects both conflict and non-conflict zones, targeting political dissidents, ethnic minorities, and vulnerable populations. International organizations regularly document such violations, highlighting their persistence across continents and regimes, despite global human rights frameworks.
In 2023, Iran witnessed a surge in executions and lethal crackdowns on protestors following widespread demonstrations. Human rights groups reported hundreds of deaths and numerous cases where individuals were denied due process, underscoring the ongoing threat to the right to life.

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 human rights, making such denials rare exceptions rather than the norm. Focusing on this topic diverts attention from more urgent, widespread concerns. In reality, the right to life is well-guarded, and claims to the contrary are often exaggerated for political or ideological purposes.