The abolition of the death penalty
Archive theme
The association places countries in four states: retentionist, abolitionist in practice — no executions for at least ten years —, abolitionist for ordinary crimes, and abolitionist for all crimes. Moving from one state to the next is almost always slow: first the executions stop, then the law changes.
This page collects the news on abolitions, legislative reforms, constitutional rulings and changes of state. The current legal status of every country is in the database.
Latest news
- MARCH 26, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
The European Union welcomed Turkey's political reform...
The European Union welcomed Turkey's political reform plan as a "landmark" in its EU membership drive, but said Ankara needs to do more on key issues such as abolition of the death penalty
- MARCH 19, 2001TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
The sub-title "Abolition of the Death Penalty" of the...
The sub-title "Abolition of the Death Penalty" of the "Political Criteria" part of the National Programme said, "according to the Constitution, the decision on the execution of a death penalty belongs exclusively to parliament
- FEBRUARY 22, 2001Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished from the constitution...
The death penalty was abolished from the constitution of the Vatican City State
- FEBRUARY 15, 2001CanadaDEATH PENALTY
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes...
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1976 and for military offenses on December 10, 1998
- FEBRUARY 1, 2001VirginiaDEATH PENALTY
Bills that would have abolished or suspended the death...
Bills that would have abolished or suspended the death penalty in Virginia were killed by the House Courts of Justice Committee
- JANUARY 31, 2001GreeceDEATH PENALTY
The Greek Parliament effectively abolished the death...
The Greek Parliament effectively abolished the death sentence in peace time
- JANUARY 3, 2001LebanonDEATH PENALTY
Around 200 protestors demanding the abolition of capital...
Around 200 protestors demanding the abolition of capital punishment in Lebanon demonstrated near the cabinet headquarters
- JANUARY 1, 2001AlbaniaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished on December 10, 1999...
The death penalty was abolished on December 10, 1999 as the Constitutional Court considered it to be against the spirit of the new Constitution approved by a popular referendum on November 22, 1998
- JANUARY 1, 2001ArmeniaDEATH PENALTY
There are 31 capital offenses
There are 31 capital offenses
- JANUARY 1, 2001FinlandDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution Act of Finland (1919 as amended in...
The Constitution Act of Finland (1919 as amended in 1995), Section 6, states in part: "Everyone shall have the right to life and personal liberty, physical integrity and security of person
- JANUARY 1, 2001HungaryDEATH PENALTY
Hungary has been abolitionist since 1990, following...
Hungary has been abolitionist since 1990, following a decision by the Constitutional Court
- JANUARY 1, 2001IrelandDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was removed from legislation in 1990,...
The death penalty was removed from legislation in 1990, but remains in the Constitution
- JANUARY 1, 2001MaltaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in 1971 for ordinary...
The death penalty was abolished in 1971 for ordinary crimes in the criminal code
- JANUARY 1, 2001VenezuelaDEATH PENALTY
In 1863 Venezuela formally abolished the death penalty,...
In 1863 Venezuela formally abolished the death penalty, making it the first modern state to do so
- JANUARY 1, 2001United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty for murder was abolished in Britain...
The death penalty for murder was abolished in Britain on December 18, 1969
- JANUARY 1, 2001Côte d’IvoireDEATH PENALTY
Between July 23 and 24, 2000, 86
Between July 23 and 24, 2000, 86
- JANUARY 1, 2001AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Australia abolished the death penalty for ordinary...
Australia abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1984 and for wartime crimes in 1985
- JANUARY 1, 2001ArgentinaDEATH PENALTY
Art. 18 of the Constitution provides for "the complete...
Art. 18 of the Constitution provides for "the complete abolition of the death penalty for political motives." A constitutional amendment, passed in 1994, recognizes international treaties signed by Argentina as equivalent to constitutional norms
- JANUARY 1, 2001ParaguayDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of Paraguay (1992) at Art
The Constitution of Paraguay (1992) at Art
- JANUARY 1, 2001HondurasDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of the Republic of Honduras at Art
The Constitution of the Republic of Honduras at Art
- JANUARY 1, 2001BermudaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in 2000
The death penalty was abolished in 2000
- JANUARY 1, 2001HaitiDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of the Republic of Haiti (1987) at Art
The Constitution of the Republic of Haiti (1987) at Art
- JANUARY 1, 2001PeruDEATH PENALTY
Peru has been abolitionist for common crimes since...
Peru has been abolitionist for common crimes since 1979, when the last execution was held
- JANUARY 1, 2001MaineDEATH PENALTY
Maine does not have the death penalty, having abolished...
Maine does not have the death penalty, having abolished it in 1887
- JANUARY 1, 2001IsraelDEATH PENALTY
The country has been abolitionist for ordinary crimes...
The country has been abolitionist for ordinary crimes since 1954
- JANUARY 1, 2001Solomon IslandsDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished for ordinary crimes in 1966
The death penalty was abolished for ordinary crimes in 1966
- JANUARY 1, 2001New ZealandDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished for ordinary crimes...
The death penalty was abolished for ordinary crimes in 1961, then fully abolished, and replaced with life imprisonment in 1989
- JANUARY 1, 2001PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
A new Constitution abolished the death penalty in 1987,...
A new Constitution abolished the death penalty in 1987, but gave Congress the option of restoring it for "heinous" crimes
- JANUARY 1, 2001ConnecticutDEATH PENALTY
Connecticut abolished in June 2001 death penalty on...
Connecticut abolished in June 2001 death penalty on mentally retarded
- JANUARY 1, 2001HawaiiDEATH PENALTY
Hawaii does not have the death penalty, having abolished...
Hawaii does not have the death penalty, having abolished it in 1956 before becoming a state