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
- FEBRUARY 24, 1999New MexicoDEATH PENALTY
A bill to abolish the death penalty passed 6-5 the...
A bill to abolish the death penalty passed 6-5 the House Judiciary Committee on February 24
- JANUARY 21, 1999RussiaDEATH PENALTY
On January 21, Anatoly Pristavkin, a writer and chairman...
On January 21, Anatoly Pristavkin, a writer and chairman of the presidential pardons commission, said it was a struggle to persuade the public of the need to do away with capital punishment
- JANUARY 6, 1999LatviaDEATH PENALTY
On January 6, the Latvian Parliament moved a step closer...
On January 6, the Latvian Parliament moved a step closer to abolishing capital punishment, just as the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence imposed on a convicted murderer
- JANUARY 4, 1999PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
On January 4, 3 hours before the time set for the Leo...
On January 4, 3 hours before the time set for the Leo Echegaray's execution the Supreme Court (8 to 5) ordered it be delayed until after June 15, 1999
- JANUARY 1, 1999San MarinoDEATH PENALTY
San Marino abolished the death penalty for ordinary...
San Marino abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1848, fully abolished it in 1865, and the last execution took place way back in 1468
- JANUARY 1, 1999New 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, 1999AustraliaDEATH 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, 1999IrelandDEATH PENALTY
Abolitionist since 1990, the last execution took place...
Abolitionist since 1990, the last execution took place in 1954
- JANUARY 1, 1999NetherlandsDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of the Kingdom of the Netherlands...
The Constitution of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (1983) at Art
- JANUARY 1, 1999MoldovaDEATH PENALTY
Moldova abolished the death penalty in December 1995...
Moldova abolished the death penalty in December 1995 and signed Protocol No
- 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
- JANUARY 1, 1999UkraineDEATH PENALTY
In recent years, the death penalty has been abolished...
In recent years, the death penalty has been abolished for 13 crimes, but 23 articles of the Criminal Code still provide for it
- JANUARY 1, 1999IsraelDEATH PENALTY
The country has been abolitionist for ordinary crimes...
The country has been abolitionist for ordinary crimes since 1954
- JANUARY 1, 1999HondurasDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of the Republic of Honduras (1982) at Art
The Constitution of the Republic of Honduras (1982) at Art
- JANUARY 1, 1999KazakhstanDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: premeditated murder, genocide,...
Capital crimes are: premeditated murder, genocide, sabotage, and 8 military crimes
- JANUARY 1, 1999PhilippinesDEATH 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, 1999Solomon IslandsDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished for ordinary crimes in 1966
The death penalty was abolished for ordinary crimes in 1966
- JANUARY 1, 1999HaitiDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of the Republic of Haiti (1987) at Art
The Constitution of the Republic of Haiti (1987) at Art
- JANUARY 1, 1999ArgentinaDEATH 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, 1999ColombiaDEATH PENALTY
Colombia abolished the death penalty in 1910
Colombia abolished the death penalty in 1910
- JANUARY 1, 1999ParaguayDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of Paraguay (1992) at Art
The Constitution of Paraguay (1992) at Art
- JANUARY 1, 1999PeruDEATH 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, 1999AngolaDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution approved in 1992 abolished the death...
The Constitution approved in 1992 abolished the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 1999ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
In January, ironically, the voice leading the call...
In January, ironically, the voice leading the call for the abolition of capital punishment was that of former President Kenneth Kaunda, who signed scores of death warrants during his 28-year reign
- JANUARY 1, 1999HawaiiDEATH 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
- JANUARY 1, 1999MinnesotaDEATH PENALTY
Minnesota abolished the death penalty in 1911
Minnesota abolished the death penalty in 1911
- JANUARY 1, 1999MaineDEATH PENALTY
Maine does not have the death penalty, having abolished...
Maine does not have the death penalty, having abolished it in 1887
- JANUARY 1, 1999North DakotaDEATH PENALTY
North Dakota does not have the death penalty
North Dakota does not have the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 1999VermontDEATH PENALTY
Vermont does not have the death penalty
Vermont does not have the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 1999TexasDEATH PENALTY
Bills to abolish the death penalty did not pass
Bills to abolish the death penalty did not pass