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 8, 2014New HampshireDEATH PENALTY
USA - New Hampshire. Senate panel tied on death penalty repeal bill.
USA - New Hampshire. Senate panel tied on death penalty repeal bill.
MARCH 25, 2014EgyptDEATH PENALTYTUNISIA: MARZOUKI CONDEMNS EGYPT DEATH SENTENCES, CALLS FOR ABOLISHING CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
The President of Tunisia, Moncef Marzouki, implicitly condemned the 529 death sentences handed down
- MARCH 19, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN AGAINST ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR DRUG SMUGGLERS
Minister of Interior Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said Iran is against abolishing the death penalty for drugs smugglers, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.
- MARCH 17, 2014ConnecticutDEATH PENALTY
USA - Connecticut. At the end of the repetition of the trial, a jury has sentenced Richard Roszkowski to death.
USA - Connecticut. At the end of the repetition of the trial, a jury has sentenced Richard Roszkowski to death.
- MARCH 12, 2014New HampshireDEATH PENALTY
USA - New Hampshire. The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill (HB 1170) to repeal the death penalty
USA - New Hampshire. The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a bill (HB 1170) to repeal the death penalty
- FEBRUARY 21, 2014South DakotaDEATH PENALTY
USA - South Dakota. Lawmakers reject bill to repeal death penalty.
USA - South Dakota. Lawmakers reject bill to repeal death penalty.
- FEBRUARY 11, 2014New HampshireDEATH PENALTY
USA - New Hampshire. House committee votes to repeal the death penalty
USA - New Hampshire. House committee votes to repeal the death penalty
- JANUARY 24, 2014LebanonDEATH PENALTY
LEBANON: MINISTER OF JUSTICE, 'THE MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS CONTINUES'
Beirut hosted a national conference against the death penalty in Lebanon. The conference, held at the
- JANUARY 23, 2014KazakhstanDEATH PENALTY
KAZAKHSTAN: MPS SUGGEST REMOVING DEATH PENALTY FROM CRIMINAL CODE, GENERAL PROSECUTOR SAYS NO
some MPs in the Kazakhstan’s Majilis (lower chamber) suggested the death penalty be removed from the
- JANUARY 14, 2014ItalyDEATH PENALTY
SIERRA LEONE: CONCLUDED TODAY THE HANDS OFF CAIN CONFERENCE ON ABOLITION AND MORATORIUM OF THE DEATH PENALTY
It concluded today in Freetown, Sierra Leone, the Regional Conference on the Abolition of the Death
JANUARY 14, 2014DEATH PENALTYSIERRA LEONE: REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY: Final Declaration
We, delegates and participants in the Conference on the Abolition of the Death Penalty and/or Moratorium of Capital Executions...
- JANUARY 13, 2014ItalyDEATH PENALTY
UNDERWAY THE HANDS OFF CAIN CONFERENCE ON ABOLITION AND MORATORIUM IN SIERRA LEONE
Today in Freetown, Sierra Leone, started the Regional Conference on abolition of the death penalty and moratorium. The conference is sponsored by the Government of Sierra Leone and by Hands Off Cain thanks to the financial support of the Ministry of Forei
- JANUARY 5, 2014New HampshireDEATH PENALTY
USA - New Hampshire. Death is one of the issues expected to dominate the 2014 legislative session.
USA - New Hampshire. Death is one of the issues expected to dominate the 2014 legislative session.
- JANUARY 1, 2014MaliDEATH 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, 2014BahrainDEATH PENALTY
The offences for which capital punishment either can or must
The offences for which capital punishment either can or must
- JANUARY 1, 2014TunisiaDEATH PENALTY
In Tunisian law the death penalty is issued for 21 separate offenses
In Tunisian law the death penalty is issued for 21 separate offenses
- JANUARY 1, 2014BeninDEATH PENALTY
On July 5, 2012, with the deposit of its instrument of accession...
On July 5, 2012, with the deposit of its instrument of accession...
- JANUARY 1, 2014BarbadosDEATH PENALTY
Barbados retains a mandatory death penalty or murder and treason.
Barbados retains a mandatory death penalty or murder and treason.
- JANUARY 1, 2014St. Vincent & GrenadinesDEATH PENALTY
Murder and treason are capital crimes.
Murder and treason are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2014Myanmar (Burma)DEATH PENALTY
In Myanmar (formerly Burma) capital crimes are: murder
In Myanmar (formerly Burma) capital crimes are: murder
- JANUARY 1, 2014Burkina FasoDEATH PENALTY
Burkina Faso provides for the death penalty in the following crimes:
Burkina Faso provides for the death penalty in the following crimes:
- JANUARY 1, 2014TaiwanDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is provided for murder, drug offenses, treason and military offenses.
The death penalty is provided for murder, drug offenses, treason and military offenses.
- JANUARY 1, 2014CameroonDEATH PENALTY
Cameroon applies the death penalty for treason.
Cameroon applies the death penalty for treason.
- JANUARY 1, 2014MoroccoDEATH PENALTY
The Country has 11 crimes that carry the death penalty
The Country has 11 crimes that carry the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2014RussiaDEATH 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, 2014LatviaDEATH PENALTY
On 26 January 2012, Latvia ratified Protocol No. 13 to the Convention
On 26 January 2012, Latvia ratified Protocol No. 13 to the Convention
- JANUARY 1, 2014BelarusDEATH PENALTY
Article 24 of the constitution reads that
Article 24 of the constitution reads that "the death penalty...
- JANUARY 1, 2014Sierra 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, 2014MongoliaDEATH PENALTY
On 13 March 2012, Mongolia acceded to the Second Optional Protocol
On 13 March 2012, Mongolia acceded to the Second Optional Protocol
- JANUARY 1, 2014United 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