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 12, 2013Antigua & BarbudaDEATH PENALTY
Antigua and Barbuda - Senate approves removal of mandatory death sentence
Antigua and Barbuda - Senate approves removal of mandatory death sentence
- SEPTEMBER 10, 2013DEATH PENALTY
OKLAHOMA (USA): ANTHONY ROZELLE BANKS EXECUTED
Anthony Rozelle Banks, 61, Black, was executed after he apologized for taking the victim's life
- SEPTEMBER 10, 2013OklahomaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Oklahoma. Anthony Rozelle Banks, 61, Black, was executed
USA - Oklahoma. Anthony Rozelle Banks, 61, Black, was executed
SEPTEMBER 9, 2013TanzaniaDEATH PENALTYTANZANIA: MINISTER OF JUSTICE RECOMMENDS STRIKING OUT DEATH PENALTY IN NEW CONSTITUTION
Minister of Justice and Constitution Affairs Mathias Chikawe proposed that the death
- JULY 3, 2013DEATH PENALTY
ILLINOIS (USA): FORMER GOVERNOR RYAN RELEASED FROM HOME CONFINEMENT
Former Illinois Governor George Ryan was released in the morning from home confinement
- JULY 3, 2013IllinoisDEATH PENALTY
USA - Illinois. Former Governor George Ryan was released today from home confinement
USA - Illinois. Former Governor George Ryan was released today from home confinement
JUNE 27, 2013DEATH PENALTYUSA: BOSTON BOMBING SUSPECT INDICTED ON 30 COUNTS
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, the Boston Marathon bombing suspect, has been indicted on 30 counts
- JUNE 25, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
EU ADVOCATES FOR THE ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN NIGERIA
the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and
- JUNE 19, 2013North CarolinaDEATH PENALTY
USA - North Carolina. Governor Pat McCrory signed SB 306, legislation that fully repeals the historic Racial Justice
USA - North Carolina. Governor Pat McCrory signed SB 306, legislation that fully repeals the historic Racial Justice
JUNE 13, 2013SpainDEATH PENALTYMADRID: 5th WORLD CONGRESS AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY
Hundreds of civil society, political figures and journalists from five continents gathered in Madrid to push for the universal abolition of the death penalty during the World 5th Congress against the Death Penalty.
- JUNE 5, 2013North CarolinaDEATH PENALTY
USA - North Carolina. The House voted 77-39 to repeal Racial Justice Act (SB 306).
USA - North Carolina. The House voted 77-39 to repeal Racial Justice Act (SB 306).
- JUNE 4, 2013North CarolinaDEATH PENALTY
USA - North Carolina. NC House tentatively OKs Racial Justice Act repeal.
USA - North Carolina. NC House tentatively OKs Racial Justice Act repeal.
- MAY 31, 2013MarylandDEATH PENALTY
USA - Maryland. Death Penalty Referendum Effort Falls Short
USA - Maryland. Death Penalty Referendum Effort Falls Short
- MAY 27, 2013KansasDEATH PENALTY
USA - The Kansas City Star recently called for an end to the death penalty in Kansas and Missouri.
USA - The Kansas City Star recently called for an end to the death penalty in Kansas and Missouri.
- MAY 15, 2013NebraskaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Nebraska. Filibuster Kills Death Penalty Repeal Bill (LB 543).
USA - Nebraska. Filibuster Kills Death Penalty Repeal Bill (LB 543).
- MAY 2, 2013DEATH PENALTY
MARYLAND (USA): O'MALLEY SIGNS DEATH PENALTY REPEAL
Democratic Gov. Martin O'Malley signed the abolition of the death penalty at a crowded ceremony in Annapolis.
- MAY 2, 2013MarylandDEATH PENALTY
USA - Maryland. Gov. Martin O'Malley signed the abolition of the death penalty
USA - Maryland. Gov. Martin O'Malley signed the abolition of the death penalty
- APRIL 24, 2013DelawareDEATH PENALTY
USA - Delaware. A bill to repeal Delaware's death penalty has stalled in a House committee
USA - Delaware. A bill to repeal Delaware's death penalty has stalled in a House committee
APRIL 20, 2013TaiwanDEATH PENALTYTAIWAN: ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY REQUIRES PUBLIC SUPPORT
responding to a call by the European Parliament for an immediate end to the use of capital
- APRIL 18, 2013OregonDEATH PENALTY
USA - Oregon. A bill seeking to ask voters to repeal Oregon's death penalty died in committee
USA - Oregon. A bill seeking to ask voters to repeal Oregon's death penalty died in committee
APRIL 16, 2013ZambiaDEATH PENALTYZAMBIA: HRC HAILS REJECTION OF DEATH PENALTY
In Zambia, the Human Rights Commission (HRC) has commended delegates to the Bill of Rights
- APRIL 9, 2013DEATH PENALTY
AMNESTY SAYS WORLD CLOSER TO ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY
Despite India and some other countries resuming the death penalty in 2012, the global trend towards ending capital punishment continued, a global human rights group said.
- APRIL 3, 2013North CarolinaDEATH PENALTY
USA - North Carolina. Senate OKs repeal of Racial Justice Act.
USA - North Carolina. Senate OKs repeal of Racial Justice Act.
- MARCH 26, 2013ColoradoDEATH PENALTY
USA - Colorado. The House Judiciary Committee rejected a bill to repeal the death penalty.
USA - Colorado. The House Judiciary Committee rejected a bill to repeal the death penalty.
- MARCH 26, 2013DEATH PENALTY
DELAWARE (USA): SENATE PASSES BILL TO REPEAL THE DEATH PENALTY
The Senate passed (11-10) a bill to repeal the death penalty for future offenses. The
- MARCH 19, 2013DEATH PENALTY
NEBRASKA (USA): BILL TO END DEATH PENALTY ADVANCES OUT OF JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
Nebraska lawmakers will once again debate the death penalty after a proposal to repeal capital
- MARCH 19, 2013NebraskaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Nebraska. Bill to end death penalty advances out of Judiciary Committee
USA - Nebraska. Bill to end death penalty advances out of Judiciary Committee
- MARCH 15, 2013DEATH PENALTY
MARYLAND (USA): HOUSE, LIKE SENATE, VOTES TO REPEAL DEATH PENALTY
The House of Delegates passed (82-56) a bill (HB 295) to abolish the death penalty in Maryland for future crimes. The same bill passed the Maryland Senate on March 6.
- MARCH 15, 2013MarylandDEATH PENALTY
USA - Maryland. The House passed the bill to abolish the death penalty
USA - Maryland. The House passed the bill to abolish the death penalty
- MARCH 13, 2013MontanaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Montana. The House Judiciary Committee turned dowh a proposal to abolish death penalty
USA - Montana. The House Judiciary Committee turned dowh a proposal to abolish death penalty