Switzerland
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 · After abolishing the death penalty for ordinary crimes...
- News items in the archive
- 54
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Switzerland 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 54 news items on Switzerland, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
- JANUARY 1, 2003SwitzerlandDEATH PENALTY
Switzerland was one of the first three countries, along...
Switzerland was one of the first three countries, along with Malta and Ireland, that on May 3, 2002 signed and ratified Protocol No 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms banning the death penalty in all circumstances
- JANUARY 1, 2003SwitzerlandDEATH PENALTY
The last execution was conducted in 1944
The last execution was conducted in 1944
- JANUARY 1, 2003SwitzerlandDEATH PENALTY
After abolishing the death penalty for ordinary crimes...
After abolishing the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1942, Switzerland became fully abolitionist in 1992
- OCTOBER 27, 2002SwitzerlandDEATH PENALTY
Iran said it was happy to discuss its stance on human...
Iran said it was happy to discuss its stance on human rights issues such as hanging with concerned European countries, but wouldn't change it
- OCTOBER 13, 2002SwitzerlandDEATH PENALTY
Hani Ramadan, 43, a Geneva-born junior high school...
Hani Ramadan, 43, a Geneva-born junior high school teacher and also director of the Geneva Islamic Centre, was suspended by Cantonal authorities after he wrote an article for the French newspaper Le Monde in which he defended death by stoning for adultery
- OCTOBER 11, 2002SwitzerlandDEATH PENALTY
The International Secretariat of the World Organisation...
The International Secretariat of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) expressed deeply concerned by the sentencing to death by stoning of 32 year-old Fatima Usman and 35 year-old Ahmed Ibrahim, in Nigeria
- MAY 3, 2002SwitzerlandDEATH PENALTY
Switzerland signed and ratified Protocol 13 to the...
Switzerland signed and ratified Protocol 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights, which ensures the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances
- APRIL 18, 2002SwitzerlandDEATH PENALTY
The Swiss foreign minister, Joseph Deiss spoke in favour...
The Swiss foreign minister, Joseph Deiss spoke in favour of human rights in Pakistan during talks with the country's justice minister, Khalid Ranjha, in Islamabad
- JANUARY 26, 2002SwitzerlandDEATH PENALTY
China is willing to improve its human rights record...
China is willing to improve its human rights record but progress may be slow, according to Swiss delegates returning from talks in Beijing
- JANUARY 1, 2002SwitzerlandDEATH PENALTY
After abolishing the death penalty for ordinary crimes...
After abolishing the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1942, Switzerland has been fully abolitionist since 1992; the last execution was conducted in 1944
- OCTOBER 25, 2001SwitzerlandDEATH PENALTY
Too many children suffer from armed conflict and exploitation,...
Too many children suffer from armed conflict and exploitation, delegates told the Third Committee at the UN General Assembly as the discussion on children continued
- APRIL 25, 2001SwitzerlandDEATH PENALTY
Switzerland was a cosponsor of the resolution on the...
Switzerland was a cosponsor of the resolution on the death penalty approved by the UN Commission on Human Rights on April 25, 2001
- FEBRUARY 13, 2001SwitzerlandDEATH PENALTY
Death row inmate Stanley 'Tookey' Williams was nominated...
Death row inmate Stanley 'Tookey' Williams was nominated for the Nobel prize by a Swiss parliamentarian
- JANUARY 1, 2001SwitzerlandDEATH PENALTY
After abolishing the death penalty for ordinary crimes...
After abolishing the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1942, Switzerland has been fully abolitionist since 1992; the last execution was conducted in 1944
- NOVEMBER 20, 2000SwitzerlandDEATH PENALTY
Death row inmate and street gang co-founder Stanley...
Death row inmate and street gang co-founder Stanley "Tookie" Williams has been nominated for the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize
- APRIL 26, 2000SwitzerlandDEATH PENALTY
Switzerland cosponsored the resolution on the death...
Switzerland cosponsored the resolution on the death penalty approved by the UN Commission on Human Rights on April 26 (no
- MARCH 21, 2000SwitzerlandDEATH PENALTY
At the 56° session of the Commission on Human Rights,...
At the 56° session of the Commission on Human Rights, Minister for Foreign Affairs Joseph Deiss stated that his government was concerned about the way in which the death penalty continued to be applied in certain countries, including the United States, be
- FEBRUARY 29, 2000SwitzerlandDEATH PENALTY
The Swiss Federal Council and the Albanian Government...
The Swiss Federal Council and the Albanian Government signed an agreement in Bern
- FEBRUARY 21, 2000SwitzerlandDEATH PENALTY
Swiss Foreign Minister Joseph Deiss met with Turkish...
Swiss Foreign Minister Joseph Deiss met with Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem to discuss human rights issues
- JANUARY 1, 2000SwitzerlandDEATH PENALTY
After abolishing the death penalty for ordinary crimes...
After abolishing the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1942, Switzerland has been fully abolitionist since 1992; the last execution was conducted in 1944
- NOVEMBER 8, 1999SwitzerlandDEATH PENALTY
On November 8, the Swiss representative, Francois Voeffray,...
On November 8, the Swiss representative, Francois Voeffray, speaking at the Third Committee of the General Assembly, said the abolition of capital punishment demonstrated respect for human dignity and the protection of life
- JUNE 22, 1999SwitzerlandDEATH PENALTY
On June 22, the Swiss Foreign Minister, through his...
On June 22, the Swiss Foreign Minister, through his Spokeswoman Yasmine Chatila, said that he had taken diplomatic action with Tehran to ensure that the 13 Jews arrested on charges of spying for Israel (see Iran) receive "fair treatment
- APRIL 28, 1999SwitzerlandDEATH PENALTY
Switzerland was a cosponsor of the resolution on the...
Switzerland was a cosponsor of the resolution on the death penalty approved by the UN Commission on Human Rights on April 28, 1999
- JANUARY 1, 1999SwitzerlandDEATH PENALTY
After abolishing the death penalty for ordinary crimes...
After abolishing the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1942, Switzerland has been fully abolitionist since 1992; the last execution was conducted in 1944