3. DEATH PENALTY EQUIPMENT 3. DEATH PENALTY EQUIPMENT By the end of 2019, 106 countries (a majority of the world’s states) had abolished the death penalty in law for all crimes, and a further 36 countries had abolished the death penalty in law or practice.36 However at least 657 executions were carried out in 2019 and at least 2,307 death sentences were handed down. Iran, Saudi Arabia and Iraq accounted for 81% of confirmed executions worldwide in 2019, with 20 countries known to have executed people. This does not include thousands of executions thought to have taken place in China.37 Prohibitions and controls on death penalty goods (including dual-use pharmaceuticals) are now in place across the EU and discussions at the UN on options to regulate the international torture-trade have raised potential inclusion of death penalty goods within its scope. A limited range of devices specifically and solely intended for use in the execution of human beings have previously been developed including gallows, hanging ropes, gas chambers, electric chairs and automatic lethal injection devices. The exact nature and scale of the trade in such goods is unknown. BY THE END OF 2019 106 DEATH PENALTY countries had abolished the HOWEVER AT LEAST 36 COUNTRIES ABOLISHED THE DEATH PENALTY IN LAW OR PRACTICE. 657 EXECUTIONS WERE CARRIED OUT IN 2019 WITH AT LEAST 2,307 DEATH SENTENCES HANDED DOWN. Iran Saudi Arabia Iraq 81 % GLOBAL EXECUTIONS 20 COUNTRIES in total known to have executed people. 36 Amnesty International, Death sentences and executions 2019, (Index: ACT 50/1847/2020), Annex II: Abolitionist and retentionist countries as of 31 December 2019. 37 Amnesty International, Death sentences and executions 2019, (Index: ACT 50/1847/2020), p. 6 20 ENDING THE TORTURE TRADE THE PATH TO GLOBAL CONTROLS ON THE ‘TOOLS OF TORTURE’ Amnesty International | Omega Research Foundation