Italy
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1998
Data card
- Legal status
- Abolitionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 0
- First news item in the archive
- NOVEMBER 12, 1998 · On 12 November 1998, Kurd leader Abdullah Ocalan,...
- News items in the archive
- 712
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Italy is classified as Abolitionist in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 0 executions in the country, against 0 the year before. The archive holds 712 news items on Italy, from 1998 to today.
Italy abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in the Constitution of 1948, removed it from the military penal code of war in 1994 and, in 2007, amended article 27 of the Constitution to delete the last reference to it. Since then it has supported a universal moratorium in international forums.
The Italian news in this archive concerns above all the association's other front: conditions inside places of detention, meaning overcrowding, suicides, access to care, life imprisonment without parole and alternative measures, together with the prison visits the association carries out and publishes reports on.
Latest news
JUNE 11, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYMORATORIUM. RADICAL PARTY: PLEA TO PRODI TO PRESENT RESOLUTION NOW
During a press conference held at the Radical Party, party leader, Marco Pannella, said: “we continue our non violent action. I urge the Prime Minister, Romano Prodi, along with the group of countries from all continents that have already showed their par
MAY 30, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYMORATORIUM. D'ALEMA SAYS TEXT FOR RESOLUTION IS READY
"I would like to reassure Mr Pannella and the public that we are working: we have prepared the text for the resolution and sent it to the German EU presidency. We are contacting all countries we think may become co-sponsors of this initiative." This is wh
MAY 28, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYDEATH PENALTY. MARCO PANNELLA'S HUNGER STRIKE TO BECOME HUNGER AND THIRST STRIKE FROM WEDNESDAY MAY 30
Marco Pannella, Sergio D'Elia and the seven other top radical figures and activists committed to an indefinite hunger strike since April 16 have once again addressed Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi and the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Massimo D
MAY 24, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYHands Off Cain announced that Mali has signed the Declaration and is ready to
Hands Off Cain announced that Mali has signed the Declaration and is ready to
MAY 24, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYMORATORIUM/EU. PANNELLA WARNS GERMAN PRESIDENCY: EU COUNCIL'S BUREAUCRACY IS TRYING TO SABOTAGE YOU OVER THE MORATORIUM, JUST LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS. A REFORM FOR PUBLIC COUNCIL INSTITUTIONAL DEBATES IS URGENT
the Radical Euro MP Marco Pannella, still on his indefinite hunger strike along with the other Radical top members, submitted the following question to the EU Council: "The bureaucratic structure of the Council is such that it has managed to create a
MAY 14, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYMORATORIUM: ITALY AND GERMANY IN CHARGE OF WRITING RESOLUTION
at the end of the Meeting of EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs, the Italian Vice Premier Massimo D'Alema announced that the EU ministers have unanimously given Italy and the German presidency the task to prepare the text for the resolution on the moratorium
MAY 10, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYMORATORIUM. D’ELIA AND MECACCI: D’ALEMA MUST ANNOUNCE HE HAS THE RESOLUTION TEXT READY
“Yesterday’s ‘rumours’ originated from diplomatic sources in Brussels who confirmed that the EU Presidency intended to postpone all possible decisions until June. This passes the baton to the Portuguese President and makes the presentation of the Resoluti
MAY 8, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYCAPITAL PUNISHMENT. PRODI, MORATORIUM MUST BE DISCUSSED AT CURRENT UN ASSEMBLY
"My Government is already committed to reopening the question of the UN Moratorium on Capital Punishment during the current General Assembly.
MAY 2, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYin a second deliberation, the Italian Parliament approved the proposed...
in a second deliberation, the Italian Parliament approved the proposed law that abolishes the death penalty from the Constitution.
APRIL 19, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYDEATH PENALTY. THE RADICALS ON THE MORATORIUM
The radical organisations Hands Off Cain, the Italian Radicals, the Transnational Radical Party and the Coscioni Association have released the following statement:
- APRIL 18, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
UN SECRETARY GENERAL BACKS ITALY ON DEATH PENALTY BAN
Italy earned the backing of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in its drive to ban the death penalty worldwide.
- APRIL 17, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
MORATORIUM. D’ALEMA, RESOLUTION MUST BE APPROVED BY EU CONSENSUS
during his visit to Algiers, the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Massimo D'Alema, explained that submitting the resolution on the moratorium on capital punishment depended on the outcome of the Council of General Affairs.
APRIL 14, 2007RwandaDEATH PENALTYRWANDA. PRESIDENT KAGAME AND FORMER EU ENVOY DISCUSS DEATH PENALTY
the former European Union Special Representative for the Great Lakes Region, Mr
APRIL 13, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYDEATH PENALTY: DECISION BY ITALIAN COUNCIL OF MINISTERS. BONINO DISSENTS
the Italian Minister of the European Policies Emma Bonino told Radio Radicale she is
- APRIL 13, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY. D'ALEMA TO PRESENT ITALIAN PROPOSAL FOR ABOLITION TO EU
"The Italian Council of Ministers gave Minister of Foreign Affair Massimo D'Alema the task of presenting the proposal for the abolition of the death penalty and the corresponding moratorium at the next EU Council of General Affairs on April 23rd. This is
- APRIL 10, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
MORATORIUM. MINISTER BONINO SAYS NECESSARY TO GO ON EVEN WITHOUT UNANIMITY
discussing the initiative for the UN moratorium on capital punishment, the Italian
- APRIL 8, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALY. MARCH IN SUPPORT OF UN MORATORIUM OF EXECUTIONS
Around 3000 people marched in Rome calling on the government to help speed the adoption of a UN resolution for a world moratorium on death penalty.
- APRIL 8, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY. D'ALEMA GIVES FULL SUPPORT TO BATTLE FOR MORATORIUM
the Italian deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary, Massimo D'Alema, gave his
APRIL 4, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYITALY. EASTER MARCH IN SUPPORT OF MORATORIUM OF EXECUTIONS TO BE ADOPTED BY THE UN
Hands off Cain and the Nonviolent Transnational Radical Party, with the patronage of the Mayor of Rome, and the National Association of Municipalities promote, together with the Comunità di Sant'Egidio, a march in support of a moratorium of capital execut
MARCH 29, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYITALIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS WORKING TOWARDS PRESENTING RESOLUTION TO UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Pasquale Ferrara, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman, clarified statements made today at the weekly press meeting. “Italy is working intensely to define the instruments and the methods needed to successfully present the moratorium on the death
- MARCH 21, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
MORATORIUM. PANNELLA RESUMES HUNGER STRIKE AS OF TONIGHT
Marco Pannella has announced he will resume his hunger strike to get European Governments to honour the solemn and repeated commitments they have made regarding the moratorium on the death penalty.
- MARCH 15, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT. ALDE GROUP PUSHES FOR PRESENTATION OF MORATORIUM AT UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Last night, the ALDE group (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe) approved a proposal
MARCH 12, 2007KazakhstanDEATH PENALTYKAZAKHSTAN. HANDS OFF CAIN AT THE ROUND TABLE ON DEATH PENALTY, MORATORIUM AND INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
The Round Table “Abolition of Death Penalty, UN World Moratorium and Accession to the International
MARCH 7, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYITALIAN SENATE APPROVED FULL ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY FROM ITS CONSTITUTION
the Italian Senate approved a draft law to modify article 27 of the Constitution (226 votes in favour, 12 abstained and no votes contrary). The law is designed to abolish the death penalty also from wartime military laws.
MARCH 1, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYITALY. D'ELIA, CONFIDENCE IN GOVERNMENT DEPENDS ON COMMITMENT TO MORATORIUM
“Our confidence in the Government depends on their commitment to take the proposed Universal Moratorium on Capital Punishment to the UN,” Sergio D'Elia, the radical Rosa nel Pugno MP, stated today in the House debate on the vote of confidence.
FEBRUARY 27, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYMORATORIUM. PRODI: THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT PROMOTES CIVILITY
The Italian Prime Minister, Romano Prodi, told the Senate: “Recently we have engaged in a significant battle against the death penalty.
FEBRUARY 23, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYMORATORIUM. AL-KALIFA (UN): I WILL WORK TOWARDS CONSENSUS ON ITALY'S INITIATIVE
Sheika Haya Rashed al-Kalifa, president of the UN General Assembly, has confirmed her commitment to ensure Italy's initiative for the universal moratorium on capital punishment is successful. At the end of a
- FEBRUARY 21, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
MORATORIUM. D'ALEMA SAYS THEY ARE WORKING TOWARDS A VOTE AT THE UN SOON
Italy is "working hard, within the shortest period of time, to hold a debate and a vote at the UN General Assembly on the proposal for the universal moratorium on capital punishment", Italy's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Massimo D'Alema, announced in the
FEBRUARY 12, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYDEATH PENALTY. RUSSIA SIGNS THE DECLARATION ON THE MORATORIUM
Russia has signed the "Declaration of Association" on the death penalty that was presented to the UN by the
FEBRUARY 3, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYDEATH PENALTY. CAPPATO, 'POSITIVE COMMITENT ON MORATORIUM TAKEN BY WORLD CONGRESS IN PARIS'
“The World Congress Against Death Penalty - in its 3-day Paris assembly which we attended as Hands Off Cain and Nonviolent Radial Party with Marco Pannella, Elisabetta Zamparutti, Marco Perduca, Antonio Stango and Max Rizzo - will end with a demonstration