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
APRIL 9, 2017IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: HUNDREDS RALLY IN TEHRAN IN PROTEST AGAINST DEATH PENALTY
Hundreds of families of prisoners on death row, especially women, rallied on the morning in front of parliament, demanding the abolition of the death penalty.
MARCH 23, 2017GambiaDEATH PENALTYGAMBIA: JUSTICE MINISTER WANTS DEATH PENALTY ABOLISHED
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Baboucarr Tambedou, said he wants the death penalty abolished in The Gambia.
MARCH 22, 2017IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: LAW COMMISSION RECOMMENDS ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY, EXCEPT IN TERROR CASES
The Law Commission has recommended that the death penalty be abolished for all crimes except those related to terrorism, Rajya Sabha was informed.
- MARCH 21, 2017ArkansasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Arkansas. The House Judiciary Committee considered three death penalty bills.
USA - Arkansas. The House Judiciary Committee considered three death penalty bills.
- MARCH 2, 2017MontanaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Montana. Death penalty abolition bill 'dead' in Montana.
USA - Montana. Death penalty abolition bill 'dead' in Montana.
- FEBRUARY 26, 2017EgyptDEATH PENALTY
EGYPT PARLIAMENT REJECTS ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY
The human rights committee of Egypt's parliament said it will never recommend that the death penalty be
- FEBRUARY 15, 2017WashingtonDEATH PENALTY
USA - Arizona. The state's execution protocol invites lawyers to provide drugs to kill their own clients
USA - Arizona. The state's execution protocol invites lawyers to provide drugs to kill their own clients
- FEBRUARY 15, 2017ColoradoDEATH PENALTY
USA - Colorado. SB 95 to eliminate the death penalty was rejected by Senate Judiciary Committee
USA - Colorado. SB 95 to eliminate the death penalty was rejected by Senate Judiciary Committee
- FEBRUARY 13, 2017South DakotaDEATH PENALTY
USA - South Dakota. The House defeated HB 1099 that would have eliminated the death sentence for the severely mentally ill
USA - South Dakota. The House defeated HB 1099 that would have eliminated the death sentence for the severely mentally ill
- FEBRUARY 10, 2017MontanaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Montana. HB 366, asking for the end of capital punishment, was voted down in the House
USA - Montana. HB 366, asking for the end of capital punishment, was voted down in the House
- JANUARY 17, 2017United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - 18 Arrested at Anti-Death Penalty Protest.
USA - 18 Arrested at Anti-Death Penalty Protest.
- JANUARY 16, 2017DEATH PENALTY
WASHINGTON (USA): PROPOSAL TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY IN THE STATE
Gov. Jay Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson on Monday announced a proposal to abolish the death penalty in Washington state.
- JANUARY 1, 2017SerbiaDEATH PENALTY
Serbia abolished the death penalty for all crimes on February 26, 2002
Serbia abolished the death penalty for all crimes on February 26, 2002
- JANUARY 1, 2017Solomon IslandsDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished for all crimes in 1966.
The death penalty was abolished for all crimes in 1966.
- JANUARY 1, 2017SloveniaDEATH PENALTY
Slovenia abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1989.
Slovenia abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1989.
- JANUARY 1, 2017SpainDEATH PENALTY
Spain became completely abolitionist in 1995.
Spain became completely abolitionist in 1995.
- JANUARY 1, 2017Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
Sierra Leone’s 1991 Constitution allows the use of the death penalty for aggravated robbery
Sierra Leone’s 1991 Constitution allows the use of the death penalty for aggravated robbery
- JANUARY 1, 2017SlovakiaDEATH PENALTY
Slovakia abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1990.
Slovakia abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1990.
- JANUARY 1, 2017SwedenDEATH PENALTY
Sweden abolished capital punishment for ordinary crimes in 1921 and has been abolitionist for all crimes since 1972.
Sweden abolished capital punishment for ordinary crimes in 1921 and has been abolitionist for all crimes since 1972.
- JANUARY 1, 2017Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: murder, causing an innocent person
Capital crimes are: murder, causing an innocent person
- JANUARY 1, 2017SurinameDEATH PENALTY
Aggravated murder premeditated murder and treason are capital crimes.
Aggravated murder premeditated murder and treason are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2017SwitzerlandDEATH PENALTY
After abolishing the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1942, Switzerland became fully abolitionist in 1992.
After abolishing the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1942, Switzerland became fully abolitionist in 1992.
- JANUARY 1, 2017United 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, 2017TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been fully abolished by a package of constitutional and legislative amendments.
The death penalty has been fully abolished by a package of constitutional and legislative amendments.
- JANUARY 1, 2017UkraineDEATH PENALTY
Ukraine abolished the death penalty in February 2000, with an overwhelming majority vote of the members of the Ukrainian parliament.
Ukraine abolished the death penalty in February 2000, with an overwhelming majority vote of the members of the Ukrainian parliament.
- JANUARY 1, 2017United StatesDEATH PENALTY
To date, the death penalty no longer exists in 18 of the 50 U.S. States
To date, the death penalty no longer exists in 18 of the 50 U.S. States
- JANUARY 1, 2017UzbekistanDEATH PENALTY
Uzbekistan abolished the death penalty on January 1, 2008.
Uzbekistan abolished the death penalty on January 1, 2008.
- JANUARY 1, 2017VenezuelaDEATH PENALTY
In 1863 Venezuela formally abolished the death penalty, making it the first modern state to do so.
In 1863 Venezuela formally abolished the death penalty, making it the first modern state to do so.
- JANUARY 1, 2017ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
The Zambian penal code, section 43, foresees that the death penalty...
The Zambian penal code, section 43, foresees that the death penalty...
- JANUARY 1, 2017MalawiDEATH PENALTY
The offences for which capital punishment either can or must be applied are murder...
The offences for which capital punishment either can or must be applied are murder...