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
- JANUARY 1, 2000ColombiaDEATH PENALTY
Colombia abolished the death penalty in 1910
Colombia abolished the death penalty in 1910
- JANUARY 1, 2000LiechtensteinDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished for all crimes on January...
The death penalty was abolished for all crimes on January 1, 1989
- JANUARY 1, 2000Solomon IslandsDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished for ordinary crimes in 1966
The death penalty was abolished for ordinary crimes in 1966
- DECEMBER 20, 1999BermudaDEATH PENALTY
On December 20, the Bermudan Senate voted by a narrow...
On December 20, the Bermudan Senate voted by a narrow margin to abolish the death penalty
- DECEMBER 16, 1999BermudaDEATH PENALTY
On December 16, the Bermudan House of Assembly voted...
On December 16, the Bermudan House of Assembly voted to abolish hanging and flogging in the British territory after debating the controversial proposal well into the night
- DECEMBER 12, 1999ItalyDEATH PENALTY
On December 12, the initiative "The Coliseum illuminates...
On December 12, the initiative "The Coliseum illuminates life" was inaugurated
- DECEMBER 10, 1999United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
On December 10, Britain ratified the Second Optional...
On December 10, Britain ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
- DECEMBER 3, 1999UkraineDEATH PENALTY
On December 3, Deputy Justice Minister Lidia Gorbunova...
On December 3, Deputy Justice Minister Lidia Gorbunova said Ukraine was moving towards abolition of death penalty even though the society regarded this as premature because the Council of Europe was pressing for abolition, and Ukraine itself was willing t
- DECEMBER 1, 1999New ZealandDEATH PENALTY
In December, Bret Bestic, regional manager of Auckland...
In December, Bret Bestic, regional manager of Auckland Prison at Paremoremo for the last 16 months, said: "There are people who are exceptionally violent and show little or no remorse and there is a strong case for capital punishment for those people
- NOVEMBER 27, 1999IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
On November 27, the death sentence was formally abolished...
On November 27, the death sentence was formally abolished in East Timor by UN transitional administrator Sergio Vieira de Mello
- NOVEMBER 27, 1999JapanDEATH PENALTY
On November 27, a survey has revealed that almost 79
On November 27, a survey has revealed that almost 79
- NOVEMBER 24, 1999IndiaDEATH PENALTY
On November 24, Nata Mullick, 73, a veteran hangman...
On November 24, Nata Mullick, 73, a veteran hangman but now an avid anti-death penalty campaigner, joined a citizens' group fighting for the abolition of capital punishment
- NOVEMBER 15, 1999MassachusettsDEATH PENALTY
On November 15, the Senate did pass by a 21-16 vote...
On November 15, the Senate did pass by a 21-16 vote a reinstatement bill, but given the House's rejection, the proposal was not likely to go further
- NOVEMBER 3, 1999JapanDEATH PENALTY
On November 3, speaking at the Third Committee of the...
On November 3, speaking at the Third Committee of the General Assembly (human rights) under item 116a (death penalty), Kunio Umeda said that as is clear from the discussion in the last three years in the Commission on Human Rights, in the ECOSOC and in th
- NOVEMBER 3, 1999BahamasDEATH PENALTY
On November 3, the Second Secretary of the Bahamas'...
On November 3, the Second Secretary of the Bahamas' mission, Cecil C
- NOVEMBER 2, 1999FinlandDEATH PENALTY
On November 2, Ann Marie Nyroos, speaking at the Third...
On November 2, Ann Marie Nyroos, speaking at the Third Committee of the General Assembly (human rights) under item 116a (death penalty), said the EU is convinced that the abolition of the death penalty contributes to the enhancement of human dignity and t
- OCTOBER 1, 1999BarbadosDEATH PENALTY
In October, Foreign Minister Billie Miller stated,...
In October, Foreign Minister Billie Miller stated, "We must reject any attempt to impose a blanket abolition on countries around the world
- SEPTEMBER 1, 1999Congo - KinshasaDEATH PENALTY
In September, human rights groups in the Democratic...
In September, human rights groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo demanded the abolition of the Court of Military Order, the country's notorious military tribunal that does not make provisions for appeal
- AUGUST 27, 1999Trinidad & TobagoDEATH PENALTY
On August 27, a delegation led by the Italian Vice...
On August 27, a delegation led by the Italian Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies' Committee on Foreign Affairs Enzo Trantino, and composed of Ambassador Claudio Moreno, and Hands Off Cain's representatives Sergio D'Elia, Secretary, and Elisabetta Z
- AUGUST 24, 1999St. LuciaDEATH PENALTY
On August 24, a delegation led by the Italian Vice...
On August 24, a delegation led by the Italian Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies' Committee on Foreign Affairs Enzo Trantino, and composed of Ambassador Claudio Moreno, and Hands Off Cain's representatives Sergio D'Elia, Secretary, and Elisabetta Z
- JULY 22, 1999UkraineDEATH PENALTY
On July 22, it was reported that an opinion poll held...
On July 22, it was reported that an opinion poll held by Socis-Gallup shows that of 1,200 respondents, 43% were against the abolition of the death penalty
- JULY 1, 1999TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
In July, the Human Rights Association (IHD) started...
In July, the Human Rights Association (IHD) started a signature collection campaign in a bid to abolish the death sentence
- JUNE 2, 1999RussiaDEATH PENALTY
On June 2, President Yeltsin issued a decree commuting...
On June 2, President Yeltsin issued a decree commuting the death sentences of the 716 prisoners to life or 25 years in prison, piling pressure on the country's Parliament to put a definitive end to capital punishment to comply with the terms of its member
- JUNE 1, 1999LatviaDEATH PENALTY
On June 1, the country officially abolished the death...
On June 1, the country officially abolished the death penalty after the entry into force of the Protocol No
- MAY 1, 1999NepalDEATH PENALTY
On May 1, Nepal completely abolished the death penalty,...
On May 1, Nepal completely abolished the death penalty, after being abolitionist for ordinary crimes since 1990
- APRIL 15, 1999LatviaDEATH PENALTY
On April 15, Parliament (64-15) voted to abolish the...
On April 15, Parliament (64-15) voted to abolish the death penalty
- MARCH 1, 1999MaltaDEATH PENALTY
In March, the extradition of Mohammed Abdel Monem Abbas,...
In March, the extradition of Mohammed Abdel Monem Abbas, 26, who was arrested in Malta in 1998 following an Interpol request, was requested by Turkey, so that he could face charges of murdering Briton Edgar Fernandes, 37, a London librarian who had been o
- MARCH 1, 1999TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
In March, the extradition of Mohammed Abdel Monem Abbas,...
In March, the extradition of Mohammed Abdel Monem Abbas, 26, who was arrested in Malta in 1998 following an Interpol request, was requested by Turkey, so that he could face charges of murdering Briton Edgar Fernandes, 37, a London librarian who had been o
- MARCH 1, 1999South DakotaDEATH PENALTY
In March, a bill to eliminate the death penalty for...
In March, a bill to eliminate the death penalty for mentally retarded defendants and for defendants under the age of 16 passed in the legislature, but was vetoed by Governor Bill Janklow; in fact, the first bill Janklow signed when he was elected to offic
- FEBRUARY 25, 1999MissouriDEATH PENALTY
On February 25, a bill to abolish the death penalty,...
On February 25, a bill to abolish the death penalty, sponsored by Springfield Democratic State Representative Mike Schilling, was defeated in the House Criminal Law Committee