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, 2019CroatiaDEATH PENALTY
Croatia abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1990.
Croatia abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1990.
- JANUARY 1, 2019BeninDEATH PENALTY
On 21 February 2018, the government of Benin commuted the death sentence of all the 14 men to life
On 21 February 2018, the government of Benin commuted the death sentence of all the 14 men to life imprisonment. This is after the decision, by the Constitutional Court of Benin, to abolish the death penalty for all crimes in a 2016 after the entry into
- JANUARY 1, 2019MaliDEATH PENALTY
Death sentences are given in Mali for serious crimes such as assassinations...
Death sentences are given in Mali for serious crimes such as assassinations...
- JANUARY 1, 2019United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
The United Kingdom abolished the death penalty for murder on December 18...
The United Kingdom abolished the death penalty for murder on December 18...
- JANUARY 1, 2019PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
On June 24, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed a law abolishing the death penalty.
On June 24, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed a law abolishing the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2019BrazilDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Brazil said
The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Brazil said
- JANUARY 1, 2019New JerseyDEATH PENALTY
The method of execution is injection.
The method of execution is injection.
- JANUARY 1, 2019BermudaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in 2000.
The death penalty was abolished in 2000.
- JANUARY 1, 2019West VirginiaDEATH PENALTY
West Virginia abolished the death penalty in 1965
West Virginia abolished the death penalty in 1965
- JANUARY 1, 2019HawaiiDEATH 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, 2019MinnesotaDEATH PENALTY
Minnesota abolished the death penalty in 1911
Minnesota abolished the death penalty in 1911
- JANUARY 1, 2019MassachusettsDEATH PENALTY
Massachusetts does not have the death penalty
Massachusetts does not have the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2019Puerto RicoDEATH PENALTY
The prohibition of the death penalty is enshrined in the 1952 Bill of Rights, incorporated in Article II of the Constitution.
The prohibition of the death penalty is enshrined in the 1952 Bill of Rights, incorporated in Article II of the Constitution.
- JANUARY 1, 2019Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
- JANUARY 1, 2019North DakotaDEATH PENALTY
North Dakota does not have the death penalty
North Dakota does not have the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2019IllinoisDEATH PENALTY
On March 9, 2011, Gov. Pat Quinn abolished the death penalty
On March 9, 2011, Gov. Pat Quinn abolished the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2019MaineDEATH PENALTY
Maine does not have the death penalty, having abolished...
Maine does not have the death penalty, having abolished it in 1887
- JANUARY 1, 2019LiechtensteinDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished for all crimes in 1987.
The death penalty was abolished for all crimes in 1987.
- JANUARY 1, 2019LuxembourgDEATH PENALTY
Luxembourg has been completely abolitionist since 1979.
Luxembourg has been completely abolitionist since 1979.
- JANUARY 1, 2019ItalyDEATH PENALTY
Italy became totally abolitionist in 1994, when the death penalty was abolished from the Military Codes.
Italy became totally abolitionist in 1994, when the death penalty was abolished from the Military Codes.
- DECEMBER 20, 2018ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
ZIMBABWEAN GOV'T PRESSES AHEAD TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY
President Mnangagwa wants the death penalty banned and the Zimbabwean government is pressing ahead with plans to have the death penalty removed from its statutes, Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Ziyambi Ziyambi said on 19 December 201
DECEMBER 17, 2018IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: HC ABOLISHES SOLITARY CONFINEMENT FOR PRISONERS FACING DEATH PENALTY
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on 14 December 2018 abolished the practice adopted by the jail authorities in Punjab to segregate convicts immediately after the pronouncement of death sentence by the trial court and its confirmation by the High Court.
- DECEMBER 6, 2018ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
ZIMBABWE MOVING CLOSER TOWARD ABOLISHING DEATH PENALTY
Zimbabwe is moving closer toward abolishing capital punishment as proposals to that effect will soon be tabled before cabinet, local media reported.
- DECEMBER 6, 2018ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
CONCLUDED THE MISSION OF HANDS OFF CAIN IN ZIMBABWE
Hands Off Cain's mission to Zimbabwe ended in Harare.
- NOVEMBER 12, 2018LiberiaDEATH PENALTY
UN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE WANTS LIBERIA REPEAL DEATH PENALTY
The United Nations Human Rights Committee (HRC) on 7 November 2018 reiterated its call on the Liberian Government to abolish the death penalty which the government reintroduced in 2008.
OCTOBER 19, 2018NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: DELTA STATE GOVERNOR OKOWA CALLS FOR THE ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTIES
Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa on 18 October 2018 called for the abolition of death sentence in Nigeria.
OCTOBER 16, 2018South KoreaDEATH PENALTYSOUTH KOREA: 7 IN 10 OPPOSE DEATH PENALTY
The majority of South Koreans agree that the death penalty should be abolished and replaced with alternative forms of punishment, the state-run human rights body announced on 10 October 2018.
- OCTOBER 11, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY; BILL MAY BE TABLED SOON
The Malaysian government has decided to abolish the death penalty and a proposed Bill is expected to be tabled at the next parliament sitting, local media reported on 10 October 2018.
- OCTOBER 11, 2018WashingtonDEATH PENALTY
USA - Washington. The State Supreme Court unanimously declared the death penalty unconstitutional
USA - Washington. The State Supreme Court unanimously declared the death penalty unconstitutional
- SEPTEMBER 26, 2018United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - FBI Crime Report Shows Murder Rates Stable in 2017.
USA - FBI Crime Report Shows Murder Rates Stable in 2017.