Rwanda
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Abolitionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 0
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 1, 1999 · Capital crimes are: murder, robbery, sorcery, offenses...
- News items in the archive
- 141
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Rwanda 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 141 news items on Rwanda, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
- JANUARY 1, 2020RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Rwanda is the first African country in the Great Lakes region to abolish the death penalty
Rwanda is the first African country in the Great Lakes region to abolish the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2019RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Rwanda is the first African country in the Great Lakes region to abolish the death penalty
Rwanda is the first African country in the Great Lakes region to abolish the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2018RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Rwanda is the first African country in the Great Lakes region to abolish the death penalty
Rwanda is the first African country in the Great Lakes region to abolish the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2017RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Rwanda is the first African country in the Great Lakes region to abolish the death penalty
Rwanda is the first African country in the Great Lakes region to abolish the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2016RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Rwanda is the first African country in the Great Lakes region to abolish the death penalty
Rwanda is the first African country in the Great Lakes region to abolish the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2015RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Rwanda is the first African country in the Great Lakes region to abolish the death penalty
Rwanda is the first African country in the Great Lakes region to abolish the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2014RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Rwanda is the first African country in the Great Lakes region to abolish the death penalty
Rwanda is the first African country in the Great Lakes region to abolish the death penalty
- AUGUST 10, 2013RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Rwandan Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo explained the position of her Government on the request
Rwandan Foreign Minister Louise Mushikiwabo explained the position of her Government on the request
- JANUARY 1, 2013RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Rwanda is the first African country in the Great Lakes region to abolish the death penalty
Rwanda is the first African country in the Great Lakes region to abolish the death penalty
- JUNE 18, 2012RwandaDEATH PENALTY
RWANDA: GACACA CLOSES SHOP
Gacaca trials officially wound up at a well-attended ceremony at the Parliamentary Buildings
- JANUARY 1, 2012RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Rwanda is the first African country in the Great Lakes region to abolish the death penalty
Rwanda is the first African country in the Great Lakes region to abolish the death penalty
- OCTOBER 14, 2011ItalyDEATH PENALTY
RWANDA: AFRICAN CONFERENCE AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY CONCLUDES
this afternoon saw the conclusion of the intergovernmental conference in Kigali, Rwanda. The conference
- OCTOBER 13, 2011ItalyDEATH PENALTY
RWANDA: AFRICAN CONFERENCE AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY OPENS IN KIGALI
this morning in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, the Inter-African conference against
- AUGUST 30, 2011RwandaDEATH PENALTY
RWANDA TO HOST MEET ON DEATH PENALTY
International experts from various countries, including 25 from Africa, will meet in
- JANUARY 1, 2011RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Rwanda is the first African country in the Great Lakes region to abolish the death penalty
Rwanda is the first African country in the Great Lakes region to abolish the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2010RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Rwanda is the first African country in the Great Lakes region to abolish the death penalty
Rwanda is the first African country in the Great Lakes region to abolish the death penalty
- SEPTEMBER 28, 2009RwandaDEATH PENALTY
AU URGES MEMBERS TO EMULATE RWANDA ON DEATH PENALTY
fifty participants representing different African Union member states and national human rights commissions appealed to African countries to emulate Rwanda and abolish the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2009RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Rwanda is the first African country in the Great Lakes region to abolish the death penalty
Rwanda is the first African country in the Great Lakes region to abolish the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2008RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Rwanda is the first African country in the Great Lakes region to abolish the death penalty
Rwanda is the first African country in the Great Lakes region to abolish the death penalty
- DECEMBER 18, 2007RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Rwanda voted in favour of the Resolution on a Moratorium...
Rwanda voted in favour of the Resolution on a Moratorium...
- SEPTEMBER 28, 2007RwandaDEATH PENALTY
RWANDA CALLS FOR END TO DEATH PENALTY
Rwanda joined other countries in appealing for a global moratorium on
- AUGUST 31, 2007RwandaDEATH PENALTY
RWANDA: KAGAME ENCOURAGES OTHER COUNTRIES TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY
the Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, encouraged other countries to follow the example of his country, as he received an award for Rwanda's abolition of the death penalty in Rome, Italy.
- AUGUST 30, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
HANDS OFF CAIN TO HONOUR KAGAME ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
Hands Off Cain awarded the Rwandan President Paul Kagame with the "The Abolitionist of the Year 2007" Award for scrapping capital punishment from the criminal laws of the country, RNA reports. The prize was awarded through Italian Prime Minister Romano Pr
- AUGUST 30, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY. KAGAME, RWANDA COSPONSOR UN MORATORIUM RESOLUTION
at the presentation of the 2007 Hands Off Cain Report on the death penalty, Paul Kagame
- AUGUST 30, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY: PRODI EXPRESSES HOPE FOR THE MORATORIUM AT THE PRESENTATION OF THE HOC REPORT
Prime Minister Romano Prodi attended the ceremony for the presentation of the 2007
- JULY 26, 2007RwandaDEATH PENALTY
EC BOSS WANTS OTHER COUNTRIES TO EMULATE RWANDA
the European Commission's Development and Humanitarian Aid boss Mr. Louis Michel said that the abolition of the death penalty in Rwanda was a "significant step" that indicates the country is "committed" to human rights, RNA reports.
- JULY 25, 2007RwandaDEATH PENALTY
RWANDA. LAW ENDING DEATH PENALTY COMES INTO FORCE
a law ending the death penalty in Rwanda, that was approved by the National Assembly in June, officially came into force.
- JULY 10, 2007RwandaDEATH PENALTY
RWANDA. SENATE APPROVES DEATH PENALTY ABOLITION
the Rwandan Senate approved a bill to abolish the death penalty, according to
- JULY 2, 2007RwandaDEATH PENALTY
RWANDA. SENATORS DISCUSS DEATH PENALTY ABOLITION
the Rwandan Minister of Justice, Tharicisse Karugarama, tabled the
- JUNE 13, 2007RwandaDEATH PENALTY
RWANDA. UN COURT REQUESTS GENOCIDE CASE TRANSFER TO RWANDA
Days after Rwanda scrapped the death penalty, an international court trying those accused of