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
NOVEMBER 17, 2014ComorosDEATH PENALTYCOMOROS: SECOND LEG OF THE HANDS OFF CAIN AND THE NONVIOLENT RADICAL PARTY IN AFRICA FOR THE UN MORATORIUM ON THE DEATH PENALTY
After the visit in Zimbabwe, the mission of Hands Off Cain and the Nonviolent Radical Party, Transnational and Transparty is now in the Comoros. Objective of the mission s to promote the UN Resolution on the Universal Moratorium of the Death Penalty, whic
NOVEMBER 13, 2014ZimbabweDEATH PENALTYZIMBABWE: HANDS OFF CAIN MEETS THE VICE-MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO URGE A VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE UN RESOLUTION ON THE MORATORIUM
The delegation of the Hands Off Cain and the Nonviolent Radical Party, Transnational and Transparty, composed of Sergio D’Elia, Marco Perduca and Marco Maria Freddi, accompanied by H.E. Enrico De Agostini Ambassador of Italy and Ms. Paula Vazquez, of the
NOVEMBER 12, 2014JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: LAWYERS' GROUP URGES NEW JUSTICE MINISTER TO SUSPEND EXECUTIONS
The Japan Federation of Bar Associations submitted a written request for Justice Minister Yoko
- NOVEMBER 6, 2014CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. Victims group sues over slow California executions
USA - California. Victims group sues over slow California executions
OCTOBER 27, 2014GhanaDEATH PENALTYGHANA: A SURVEY SHOWS THAT 48% OF POPULATION IS IN FAVOR OF ABOLITION, 40% IS AGAINST
OCTOBER 23, 2014Vatican CityDEATH PENALTYVATICAN CITY: POPE FRANCIS BLASTS SUPERMAX PRISONS AS ‘TORTURE’
Pope Francis said that keeping inmates isolated in maximum security prisons is “a form of torture,” and called life sentences “a hidden death penalty” that should be abolished along with capital punishment.
OCTOBER 23, 2014United KingdomDEATH PENALTYUNITED KINGDOM: ‘AID FOR EXECUTIONS’ IN SPOTLIGHT AS PAKISTAN SET TO RESTART HANGINGS
Reprieve, the charity that campaigns against the death penalty, said Britain risks being “complicit in a gross
OCTOBER 10, 2014DEATH PENALTYDEATH PENALTY: HANDS OFF CAIN, THE WORLD DAY AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY FOR AFRICA
Hands Off Cain devotes the World Day against the Death Penalty to Africa.
OCTOBER 8, 2014TaiwanDEATH PENALTYTAIWAN: JUSTICE MINISTER VOICES SUPPORT FOR THE DEATH PENALTY TO BE REPEALED, UNLESS THE MAJORITY OPINION
Justice Minister Luo Ying-shay voiced her support for repealing the death penalty in Taiwan, roughly six
OCTOBER 8, 2014MoroccoDEATH PENALTYMOROCCO: ABOLITIONISTS SLAM 'INHUMANE' TREATMENT ON DEATH ROW
Rights activists accused Moroccan authorities of keeping more than 100 prisoners awaiting execution in
SEPTEMBER 26, 2014TunisiaDEATH PENALTYTUNISIA: RIGHTS GROUP CALLS FOR ABOLISHING DEATH PENALTY
A Tunisian human rights group has urged the country's incoming parliament to abolish capital punishment
SEPTEMBER 25, 2014ItalyDEATH PENALTYRENZI AT THE UNITED NATIONS: DO NOT ADD BARBARITY TO BARBARITY
Mr Matteo Renzi, Head of the Italian Government, speaking before the General Assembly, recalled the
SEPTEMBER 23, 2014South AfricaDEATH PENALTYSOUTH AFRICA: HIGH COURT RULES BOTSWANA DEPORTATION ILLEGAL
the High Court in Pretoria ruled that South Africa wrongfully deported a wanted murder-accused back to his home country, Botswana, where he could face the death penalty.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2014ChadDEATH PENALTYCHAD: TOWARDS ABOLISHING THE DEATH PENALTY
The Chadian government adopted on September 5 a penal code aimed at abolishing the death penalty, Minister of Communication and government spokesman Hassan Sylla Bakari announced after an inter-ministerial meeting held in N’Djamena.
- JULY 30, 2014United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Death Penalty on Hold in Most of the Country
USA - Death Penalty on Hold in Most of the Country
JULY 18, 2014DEATH PENALTYHANDS OFF CAIN REPORT: 'POSITIVE EVOLUTION TOWARDS ABOLITION'
"The worldwide trend towards abolition of the death penalty in place in the world for over 15 years, was confirmed in 2013 and the first six months of 2014. In fact 161 countries, either by law or in practice, have decided to abolish, and only 37 countrie
- JULY 16, 2014CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. Federal judge vacates death sentence and rules death penalty unconstitutional in California.
USA - California. Federal judge vacates death sentence and rules death penalty incostituzionalità in California.
JULY 16, 2014DEATH PENALTYPRESENTATION OF HANDS OFF CAIN’S 2014 REPORT ‘THE DEATH PENALTY WORLDWIDE’ AND AWARD PRESENTATION FOR ‘THE ABOLITIONIST OF THE YEAR 2014’
The presentation will be held on 18 July 2014, 11:45 A.M., in Rome, Via di Torre Argentina 76.
JULY 16, 2014CaliforniaDEATH PENALTYCALIFORNIA: FEDERAL JUDGE RULES DEATH PENALTY UNCONSTITUTIONAL
Federal judge vacates death sentence and rules death penalty unconstitutional in California. U.S. District
- JULY 9, 2014MalawiDEATH PENALTY
MALAWI WILL NOT ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY, UN TOLD
Malawi will not abolish the death penalty from its laws, Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs
- JULY 4, 2014ItalyDEATH PENALTY
BENIN: PAN-AFRICAN CONFERENCE ON ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY CONCLUDES
It ended today, the Continental Conference on the Abolition of the death penalty in Africa convened in Cotonou, the capital of Benin, by the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights with the ministerial meeting chaired by Foreign Minister Bako-Arif
- JULY 3, 2014BeninDEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY: SECOND DAY OF THE PAN-AFRICAN CONFERENCE
The Pan-African Conference on the Death Penalty went through its second day. The session began with the reports of the five thematic commissions held the previous day concerning the role of parliamentarians, civil society and media, professional groups,
- JULY 2, 2014BeninDEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY: SETS OUT THE AFRICAN CONFERENCE IN BENIN
Today were opened in Cotonou, capital of Benin, the three days works of the Continental Conference on the Abolition of the death penalty in Africa convened by the local government with the Commission on Human Rights and Peoples of the African Union in col
JULY 2, 2014United NationsDEATH PENALTY'DEATH PENALTY HAS NO PLACE IN 21ST CENTURY,' DECLARES UN CHIEF
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared that the death penalty has no place in the 21st
JUNE 11, 2014BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: FOREIGN MINISTER, ‘SOCIETY NOT READY TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY’
in an interview posted on the ministry's official website, Foreign Minister Vladimir Makey said Belarusian
MAY 30, 2014TaiwanDEATH PENALTYTAIWAN: DEATH PENALTY FOR KIDNAPPINGS ABOLISHED
In its final meeting before the end of the plenary session, the Legislative Yuan passed amendments to the
MAY 19, 2014SurinameDEATH PENALTYSURINAME: MINISTER OF JUSTICE, DEATH PENALTY TO BE REVOKED
Justice and Police Minister Edward Belfort announced that Suriname will raise its maximum jail sentence to
- MAY 14, 2014DEATH PENALTY
NEW HAMPSHIRE (USA): HOUSE VOTES AGAIN TO REPEAL DEATH PENALTY
With its 1st attempt stalled in the Senate, the House has voted for the 2nd time this year to repeal New Hampshire's death penalty.
MAY 2, 2014Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTYSIERRA LEONE TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY
Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Hon. Franklyn Bai Kargbo, told the United Nations Committee
- APRIL 17, 2014DEATH PENALTY
NEW HAMPSHIRE (USA): DEATH PENALTY REPEAL FAILS BY 1 VOTE
New Hampshire's Senate has voted 12-12 today on a death penalty repeal measure. The tie means capital