The death penalty is a hotly debated topic around the world, challenging our beliefs about human rights and justice. Countries are divided into three categories: retentionists (maintain the practice), abolitionists (abolished it), and abolitionists in practice (the law still allows it, but it has not been used for more than a decade). Some countries, such as the United States, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and North Korea, use it regularly, while others, such as Canada, Australia, and most of Europe, have abolished it. Many countries in Africa, Asia and America still apply the death penalty, but rarely use it. The decision to maintain or abolish it often reflects opinions about justice, deterrence and human rights.