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
- JUNE 5, 2012DEATH PENALTY
VATICAN CITY: 'VATILEAKS' SHEDS LIGHT ON CARDINAL GEORGE'S ROLE IN POLITICS
Reams of private Vatican correspondence published in a new Italian best-seller reportedly include
JUNE 2, 2012ZimbabweDEATH PENALTYZIMBABWE: ACTIVISTS SLAM GNU OVER DEATH PENALTY
In Zimbabwe, human rights activists have slammed the inclusive government for lack of sincerity
- MAY 11, 2012DEATH PENALTY
USA: THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH URGES MISSOURI TO END ITS DEATH PENALTY
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch urged Missouri to end its death penalty as the system has
MAY 9, 2012IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: NO PLAN TO REVIEW LAWS ON DEATH SENTENCE - CHIDAMBARAM
There were no plans to review laws on death sentence in India, Home Minister P. Chidambaram
- APRIL 25, 2012DEATH PENALTY
CONNECTICUT (USA): GOVERNOR MALLOY SIGNS DEATH PENALTY REPEAL
Governor Dannel Malloy signed into law a bill that replaces the death penalty with life without
- APRIL 25, 2012ConnecticutDEATH PENALTY
USA - Connecticut. Governor Dannel Malloy signed into law the bill that abolishes the death penalty
USA - Connecticut. Governor Dannel Malloy signed into law the bill that abolishes the death penalty
- APRIL 25, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Jimmy Carter, Former President and Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Calls for End to Death Penalty
USA - Jimmy Carter, Former President and Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Calls for End to Death Penalty
- APRIL 20, 2012JapanDEATH PENALTY
Justice Minister Toshio Ogawa has rebuffed criticism...
Justice Minister Toshio Ogawa has rebuffed criticism...
APRIL 20, 2012TaiwanDEATH PENALTYTAIWAN: PRESIDENT VOWS TO WORK TOWARD ENDING DEATH PENALTY
In Taiwan, President Ma Ying-jeou said his administration would reduce the use of the
APRIL 18, 2012JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: EX-JUSTICE MINISTER VOICES REGRET OVER RESUMPTION OF EXECUTIONS
Former Justice Minister Hideo Hiraoka said it is regrettable that execution of the death
- APRIL 12, 2012DEATH PENALTY
CONNECTICUT (USA): MALLOY ISSUES STATEMENT ON FINAL PASSAGE OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT REPEAL LEGISLATION
Governor Dannel P. Malloy released the following statement on House passage of
- APRIL 12, 2012DEATH PENALTY
CONNECTICUT (USA): VICTIMS' FAMILIES BOOST DEATH PENALTY REPEAL
The vote to repeal Connecticut's death penalty brought a moment of triumph
- APRIL 12, 2012ConnecticutDEATH PENALTY
USA - Connecticut. Victims' families boost Connecticut death penalty repeal.
USA - Connecticut. Victims' families boost Connecticut death penalty repeal.
- APRIL 11, 2012DEATH PENALTY
CONNECTICUT (USA): LAWMAKERS VOTE TO REPEAL DEATH PENALTY
Death penalty repeal bill passes House in Connecticut. The House of Representatives approved Senate Bill 280 86 to 62 shortly before 11 p.m. today.
- APRIL 10, 2012DEATH PENALTY
CONNECTICUT (USA): HOUSE VOTES TO REPEAL STATE'S DEATH PENALTY
The Connecticut House of Representatives will be voting on the death penalty repeal
- APRIL 10, 2012ConnecticutDEATH PENALTY
USA - Connecticut. The House will be voting on the death penalty repeal bill tomorrow, Wednesday 11
USA - Connecticut. The House will be voting on the death penalty repeal bill tomorrow, Wednesday 11
- APRIL 5, 2012DEATH PENALTY
CONNECTICUT (USA): SENATE VOTES TO DO AWAY WITH DEATH PENALTY
The Connecticut Senate voted 20-16 on a bill that would do away with the death penalty and replace it with life imprisonment.
- APRIL 3, 2012GuyanaDEATH PENALTY
Guyana is launching a national debate on whether to eliminate...
Guyana is launching a national debate on whether to eliminate...
MARCH 31, 2012Congo - KinshasaDEATH PENALTYDEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: MINISTERS IN FAVOR OF AN IRREVERSIBLE MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS
At the interregional conference against the death penalty in Central Africa, organized by Ensemble
MARCH 30, 2012IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: AKALI DAL PARTY CALLS FOR ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) party has called on the government to abolish the barbaric
- MARCH 28, 2012ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
ZIMBABWE PLANS TO CUT BACK ON HANGINGS, DEATH PENALTY ONLY FOR 'EXTREME VIOLENCE'
Zimbabwe is considering cutting back on hangings according to a proposed new constitution
- MARCH 28, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA: ‘THE DEATH PENALTY SHOULD BE MAINTAINED FOR NOW’
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz said the Government has no
- MARCH 22, 2012ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA TO ABOLISH TRANSPLANTING ORGANS FROM CONDEMNED PRISONERS WITHIN 3-5 YEARS
China has pledged to abolish the practice of taking transplant human organs from condemned prisoners within three to five years, a senior health official said.
- MARCH 21, 2012ConnecticutDEATH PENALTY
USA - Connecticut. A poll showed 62 percent of residents do not support repealing the death penalty
USA - Connecticut. A poll showed 62 percent of residents do not support repealing the death penalty
- MARCH 20, 2012BelarusDEATH PENALTY
RUSSIA CALLS ON MINSK TO JOIN MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY
Russia wants all European countries including Belarus to join the moratorium on the death penalty
- MARCH 19, 2012DEATH PENALTY
NORTH CAROLINA (USA): SPRINGSTEEN ADDRESSES DEATH PENALTY ON GREENSBORO STOP
Bruce Springsteen is coming to Greensboro, where he'll be doing more than playing
- MARCH 19, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Bruce Springsteen is lending his support to People of Faith Against the Death Penalty
USA - Bruce Springsteen is lending his support to People of Faith Against the Death Penalty
- MARCH 13, 2012MongoliaDEATH PENALTY
with the deposit of its instrument of ratification...
with the deposit of its instrument of ratification...
- MARCH 1, 2012CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. Opponents of capital punishment announce that they have 800,000 signatures to repeal the death penalty
USA - California. Opponents of capital punishment announce that they have 800,000 signatures to repeal the death penalty
MARCH 1, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: MINISTER FOR ABOLISHING DEATH PENALTY
In Malaysia, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz called