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, 2016RussiaDEATH PENALTY
With the introduction of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation of 1996
With the introduction of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation of 1996
- JANUARY 1, 2016HungaryDEATH PENALTY
Hungary has been abolitionist since 1990, following a decision by the Constitutional Court.
Hungary has been abolitionist since 1990, following a decision by the Constitutional Court.
- JANUARY 1, 2016RomaniaDEATH PENALTY
Romania abolished the death penalty in 1989.
Romania abolished the death penalty in 1989.
- JANUARY 1, 2016DenmarkDEATH PENALTY
Denmark has been abolitionist since 1978.
Denmark has been abolitionist since 1978.
- JANUARY 1, 2016FranceDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in France on September 9...
The death penalty was abolished in France on September 9...
- JANUARY 1, 2016CzechiaDEATH PENALTY
The Czech Republic abolished the death penalty in 1990.
The Czech Republic abolished the death penalty in 1990.
- JANUARY 1, 2016UkraineDEATH 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, 2016EstoniaDEATH PENALTY
Estonia abolished the death penalty for all crimes on May 13, 1998.
Estonia abolished the death penalty for all crimes on May 13, 1998.
- JANUARY 1, 2016FinlandDEATH PENALTY
Finland abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1949, and for all crimes in 1972.
Finland abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1949, and for all crimes in 1972.
- DECEMBER 4, 2015NebraskaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Nebraska. Governor Suspends Efforts to Obtain Death Penalty Drugs.
USA - Nebraska. Governor Suspends Efforts to Obtain Death Penalty Drugs.
- DECEMBER 3, 2015NebraskaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Nebraska. Ernie Chambers asks Nebraska Supreme Court to sanction attorney general over lethal injection drugs.
USA - Nebraska. Ernie Chambers asks Nebraska Supreme Court to sanction attorney general over lethal injection drugs.
NOVEMBER 27, 2015VietnamDEATH PENALTYVIETNAM PASSES LAW ABOLISHING DEATH PENALTY FOR 8 CRIMES
Death sentences imposed on corrupt Vietnamese officials will now be commuted to life in prison if they pay
NOVEMBER 13, 2015MalawiDEATH PENALTYEU HOPES MALAWI WILL COMPLETE THE PROCESS OF ABOLISHING THE DEATH PENALTY
The European Union says it hopes one day Malawi will take the next step and actually complete the process
OCTOBER 29, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: THREE KEY DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES TAKE POSITION ON THE DEATH PENALTY
Hillary Clinton affirmed her support for the death penalty in limited circumstances during an appearance
- OCTOBER 19, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - The largest coalition of U.S. evangelicals has stepped away from its pro-death penalty stance
USA - The largest coalition of U.S. evangelicals has stepped away from its pro-death penalty stance
- SEPTEMBER 24, 2015DEATH PENALTY
VISIT TO THE JOINT SESSION OF THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS - ADDRESS OF THE HOLY FATHER
SEPTEMBER 24, 2015DEATH PENALTYIN ADDRESS TO CONGRESS, POPE FRANCIS CALLS FOR ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY
In his address before the United States Congress, Pope Francis called for “the global abolition of the death penalty” because, he said, "every life is sacred, every human person is endowed with an inalienable dignity, and society can only benefit from the
SEPTEMBER 24, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: WHITE HOUSE WON’T WEIGH IN DIRECTLY ON POPE’S CALL FOR END TO DEATH PENALTY
After Pope Francis called for the “global abolition of the death penalty” in front of Congress Thursday, the
- SEPTEMBER 18, 2015NebraskaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Nebraska. Secretary of State reported today that 120,479 signatures to suspend the repeal of the death penalty have been certified to his office.
USA - Nebraska. Secretary of State reported today that 120,479 signatures to suspend the repeal of the death penalty have been certified to his office.
- SEPTEMBER 16, 2015NebraskaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Nebraska. Improper paperwork thwarted an effort by Nebraska prison officials to import lethal injection drugs
USA - Nebraska. Improper paperwork thwarted an effort by Nebraska prison officials to import lethal injection drugs
AUGUST 28, 2015IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: LAW PANEL DRAFT PAPER FAVOURS ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY
The Law Commission is set to recommend abolition of death penalty in India except for terror convicts,
- AUGUST 26, 2015NebraskaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Nebraska. Death penalty supporters turned in petitions today with enough signatures to suspend repeal and put death penalty before voters next year.
USA - Nebraska. Death penalty supporters turned in petitions today with enough signatures to suspend repeal and put death penalty before voters next year.
- AUGUST 26, 2015KansasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Kansas. Kansas Federation of College Republicans Urges Repeal of Death Penalty.
USA - Kansas. Kansas Federation of College Republicans Urges Repeal of Death Penalty.
- AUGUST 13, 2015ConnecticutDEATH PENALTY
USA - Connecticut. Connecticut Supreme Court empties death row
USA - Connecticut. Connecticut Supreme Court empties death row
- JULY 31, 2015ItalyDEATH PENALTY
USA - Italy. Italian anti-death penalty group names Pope Francis 'abolitionist of the year'
USA - Italy. Italian anti-death penalty group names Pope Francis 'abolitionist of the year'
JULY 31, 2015DEATH BY PUNISHMENTANALYSIS OF THE 2015 REPORT DATA AND OBJECTIVES OF HANDS OFF CAIN
The slight increase in executions in 2014 as compared to 2013 is explained by increases recorded in Iran
JULY 31, 2015DEATH PENALTYHANDS OFF CAIN 2015 REPORT
The worldwide trend towards abolition, underway for more than fifteen years, was again confirmed in 2014 and the first six months of 2015.
- JULY 22, 2015NebraskaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Nebraska. Lethal injection drugs still not here.
USA - Nebraska. Lethal injection drugs still not here.
JULY 12, 2015IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: DEATH PENALTY IS PRIVILEGE OF POOR, SAYS LAW COMMISSION HEAD
Noting that poor and downtrodden usually go to the gallows, Chairman of the Law Commission of India
JULY 10, 2015IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: FORMER PRESIDENT A P J ABDUL KALAM FAVOURS ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY
Former president A P J Abdul Kalam has supported abolition of the death penalty, saying that as President