In 1863 Venezuela formally abolished the death penalty, making it the first modern state to do so.

In 1863 Venezuela formally abolished the death penalty, making it the first modern state to do so.
Art. 58 of the 1999 Constitution states: "The right to life is inviolable. Neither the law can provide for the death penalty, nor any authority put it into effect." In 1994 a proposal to reintroduce the death penalty in Venezuela came before the legislature but it was not accepted.
On December 18, 2007 Venezuela co-sponsored and voted in favour of the Resolution on a Moratorium on the Use of the Death Penalty at the UN General Assembly.