This study was undertaken by the Centre for Human Rights Studies (CHRS) in collaboration with the South Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre, the Human Rights Law Network, and the Centre for Development and Human Rights. It was conducted with the aim of initiating inquiry and reflection on the morality and effectiveness of the death penalty. The final report, produced as an outcome of a conference held on the subject, summarizes the arguments against the death penalty from various standpoints including empirical, historical, sociological, constitutional, and consequential. The study also includes recommendations and is intended as an advocacy tool. Recommendations were made to the Government, human rights institutions, the judiciary and the legal fraternity, NGOs, media and civil society. The report was published in November 2011.