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
SEPTEMBER 26, 2018DEATH PENALTYUSA: FBI CRIME REPORT SHOWS MURDER RATES STABLE IN 2017
The FBI Uniform Crime Report for 2017, released by the U.S. Department of Justice, reports that murder rates stabilized across the United States in 2017, decreasing marginally compared to adjusted homicide figures from 2016 but remaining above the record
- SEPTEMBER 13, 2018New HampshireDEATH PENALTY
USA - New Hampshire. Effort to override Governor Sununu's veto of a bill repealing death penalty fell two votes shorts.
USA - New Hampshire. Effort to override Governor Sununu's veto of a bill repealing death penalty fell two votes shorts.
- AUGUST 24, 2018BeninDEATH 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
- AUGUST 2, 2018DEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY: HANDS OFF CAIN, ANOTHER EXTRAORDINARY STEP OF POPE FRANCIS
On the reform of the New Catechism on the death penalty, the leaders of Hands Off Cain as well as members of the Radical Party Presidency, Sergio D'Elia, Elisabetta Zamparutti and Rita Bernardini, said:
- AUGUST 2, 2018New YorkDEATH PENALTY
USA - New York. after the Pope's position, Gov. Cuomo will introduce legislation to remove the death penalty from state law.
USA - New York. after the Pope's position, Gov. Cuomo will introduce legislation to remove the death penalty from state law.
- AUGUST 1, 2018Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis Formally Changes Catholic Church Stance on Death Penalty, Calling It “Inadmissible”.
VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis Formally Changes Catholic Church Stance on Death Penalty, Calling It “Inadmissible”.
JULY 11, 2018GambiaDEATH PENALTYGAMBIA: 23 PRISONERS ON DEATH ROW
Gambia government has told the United Nations Human Rights Committee that the country is working on plans to repeal its law enforcing death penalty thus commuting the sentences of those on death row to life sentences.
JUNE 29, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: GOVERNMENT CONSIDERING REMOVING MANDATORY DEATH PENALTY
The government is looking into the need to make amendments to do away with the mandatory death penalty in legislation pertaining to criminal offences,
- JUNE 25, 2018ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
ZIMBABWEANS WANT DEATH PENALTY TO GO
According to a survey conducted by international criminologist, Dr Mai Sato, in collaboration with the Mass Public Opinion Institute, most Zimbabweans would be happy to see the abolition of capital punishment.
- JUNE 21, 2018New HampshireDEATH PENALTY
USA - New Hampshire. Governor Vetoes Death-Penalty Repeal Bill.
USA - New Hampshire. Governor Vetoes Death-Penalty Repeal Bill.
- JUNE 20, 2018ConnecticutDEATH PENALTY
USA - Connecticut. Lazale Ashby resentenced to life in prison without parole
USA - Connecticut. Lazale Ashby resentenced to life in prison without parole
- JUNE 18, 2018South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
KOREA PUSHING FOR OFFICIAL DECLARATION ON ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY
South Korea is pushing for a presidential declaration on the abolition of capital punishment, the state human rights watchdog said,
- MAY 8, 2018ConnecticutDEATH PENALTY
USA - Connecticut. Todd Rizzo was resentenced to life in prison
USA - Connecticut. Todd Rizzo was resentenced to life in prison
MAY 3, 2018MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: DEATH PENALTY NO LONGER MANDATORY FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING
Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture (Madpet) is pleased that the Dangerous Drugs Amendment Act 2017, which received royal assent on 27 December 2017, has finally, after much delay, come into force on 15 March 2018.
- APRIL 26, 2018New HampshireDEATH PENALTY
USA - New Hampshire. The House passed SB 593, a death penalty repeal bill
USA - New Hampshire. The House passed SB 593, a death penalty repeal bill
- APRIL 12, 2018DEATH PENALTY
CHINA REMAINS WORLD'S TOP EXECUTIONER: AMNESTY
China has remained the worlds top executioner amid a decline in global executions, Amnesty International's annual report on capital punishment said.
- APRIL 11, 2018LouisianaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Louisiana. The House Justice Committee rejected House Bill 162 to abolish death penalty
USA - Louisiana. The House Justice Committee rejected House Bill 162 to abolish death penalty
- APRIL 10, 2018LouisianaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Louisiana. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved 4-1 SB 51 that would eliminate the death penalty
USA - Louisiana. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved 4-1 SB 51 that would eliminate the death penalty
- APRIL 9, 2018Côte d’IvoireDEATH PENALTY
IVORY COAST: AFRICAN REGIONAL CONGRESS AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY
The work of the 3rd African Regional Congress Against the Death Penalty has been opened in Abidjan, in Côte d'Ivoire.
- MARCH 22, 2018United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - New Quinnipiac University National Poll on death penalty
USA - New Quinnipiac University National Poll on death penalty
- MARCH 2, 2018WashingtonDEATH PENALTY
USA - Washington. SB 6052 to abolish death penalty dies.
USA - Washington. SB 6052 to abolish death penalty dies.
- MARCH 1, 2018UtahDEATH PENALTY
USA - Utah. Proponents of HB 379 to abolish the death penalty have withdrawn the bill
USA - Utah. Proponents of HB 379 to abolish the death penalty have withdrawn the bill
- FEBRUARY 22, 2018WashingtonDEATH PENALTY
USA - Washington. The House Judiciary Committee passed bill SB 6052 to abolish the death penalty
USA - Washington. The House Judiciary Committee passed bill SB 6052 to abolish the death penalty
- FEBRUARY 21, 2018BeninDEATH PENALTY
BENIN ABOLISHES DEATH PENALITY
Benin has abolished the death penalty, according to a decree issued by the head of state, Patrice Talon.
- FEBRUARY 21, 2018UtahDEATH PENALTY
USA - Utah. Utah House panel advances HB379 to end death penalty.
USA - Utah. Utah House panel advances HB379 to end death penalty.
- FEBRUARY 20, 2018South DakotaDEATH PENALTY
USA - South Dakota. HB 1123 was tabled in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
USA - South Dakota. HB 1123 was tabled in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
- FEBRUARY 18, 2018GambiaDEATH PENALTY
GAMBIA ANNOUNCES ‘MORATORIUM’ ON DEATH PENALTY
Gambian President Adama Barrow announced a suspension of the death penalty in his country, in a break from the former regime of the dictator Yahya Jammeh.
- FEBRUARY 17, 2018BotswanaDEATH PENALTY
BOTSWANA HANGS MAN WHO MURDERED GIRLFRIEND, SON
Botswana hanged a man for murdering his girlfriend and her son, the first execution in two years by the only southern African nation not to have abolished the death penalty.
- FEBRUARY 14, 2018WashingtonDEATH PENALTY
USA - Washington. Senate Passes Death Penalty Abolition Bill.
USA - Washington. Senate Passes Death Penalty Abolition Bill.
- FEBRUARY 13, 2018NebraskaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Nebraska. Judge Dismisses ACLU Death Penalty Suit.
USA - Nebraska. Judge Dismisses ACLU Death Penalty Suit.