The death penalty should be made illegal worldwide

First of all, my opponent has claimed I believe rehabilitation is an ALTERNATIVE to punishment. This is not the case, I pointed out that people can change, and rehabilitation is available to prevent re-offending, and should be a part of the punishment for lasting affects. My opponent also claims with death you have EVERYTHING to lose. Let's have an example; A young boy given up for adoption as a child, passed onto many different foster parents, never settling into a family life. Over time takes on a life of crime. Eventually committing such a crime that sentence's him to death. This guy has no family, no real friends, no real life. He has nothing to lose, death isn't a worry to such a person, who has he to miss and who is there to miss him. Granted, not everyone will have such a story, but many criminals hold the same social and family issues. So just to state, I am not against punishment, just capital punishment. Saying that, I also believe stronger punishments will help to prevent future re-offending. My opponent has some pre conception of a state prison. Yes, you here many stories of some criminals living the life of luxury behind bars, but this really isn't the case. Here are a few links from many prisons, none of which state any such luxury's: . http://www.british-prisons.co.uk... . http://www.opsi.gov.uk... . http://www.hmprisonservice.gov.uk... . http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk... You must also take into serious consideration, no matter the crime or mental state of mind of any prisoner, every human has human rights. As a living, breathing person, one is entitled to fresh air and leisure time. It is just immoral to lock someone in a cage no matter the seriousness of their crimes. Prison security makes sure RIGHTS like these are handed out safely to prevent any risk of escape or further crimes being committed at that time. Now, my opponent seems to believe that capital punishment is in comparison to self defense! There is no denying a criminal should not be punished, but the punishment should under no circumstances be death. I accept that for the sake of the argument, and to save any confusion, we shall argue that murder is the primary target of this debate. My opponent has still failed in two attempts to state what good capital punishment does for society. Granted, if, after many years in prison and countless hours of rehabilitation does not change a person, letting them back into society should not be considered an option. But keeping that person behind bars until they die of natural causes, is just as effective in keeping society that little bit safer as killing them is. So what seems the fairer choice there? Another point, which has not yet been raised, there is always room for mistake. Many times, a law abiding citizen has lost their life down to their countries justice system, only for the true perpetrator of the crime to come forward many years later, when the outcome cannot be reversed. Let's face it, guilty or not, the majority of criminals will protest their innocence, who's to say that half of the inmates on death row as we speak are actually innocent of their apparent crimes? One thing that cannot be reversed is taking someone's life, and all too often, the jury are wrong in their decision. I believe this to be a very strong point to the argument and should not be bypassed. . http://www.commondreams.org... The death penalty is barbaric and belongs in the past. There is no evidence of the death penalty having any deterrent effect, life imprisonment without parole is just as effective a means of preventing re-offending, any system of capital punishment is bound to make mistakes, and who are we to take another human being's life in any case? Most countries have got rid of it already. However, a few - including China, the US, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan - still regularly put people to death. They should join the civilised world and make the death penalty history. . http://www.squidoo.com... I hope everything I have stated is taken into consideration as well as my opponents lack of opposing arguments. The death penalty is inhumane, two wrongs do not make a right.