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
- MARCH 1, 2012DEATH PENALTY
CALIFORNIA (USA): 800,000 SIGNATURES GATHERED TO REPEAL DEATH PENALTY
Opponents of capital punishment announced today that they have gathered nearly 800,000 signatures for a November ballot initiative that would repeal the death penalty in California and replace it with life in prison without parole.
- FEBRUARY 13, 2012BelarusDEATH PENALTY
EU ISSUES STATEMENT ON DEATH SENTENCES IN BELARUS
The EU has issued a statement saying it is “deeply concerned” that two men facing
- FEBRUARY 13, 2012DEATH PENALTY
CALIFORNIA (USA): AUTHORS OF CALIFORNIA'S 1978 DEATH PENALTY INITIATIVE NOW SUPPORT REPEAL
Ron Briggs, along with the other authors of the initiative which expanded California’s
- FEBRUARY 13, 2012CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. Authors of California's 1978 Death Penalty Initiative Now Support Repeal
USA - California. Authors of California's 1978 Death Penalty Initiative Now Support Repeal
- JANUARY 27, 2012IraqDEATH PENALTY
EU High Representative Catherine Ashton expressed...
EU High Representative Catherine Ashton expressed...
- JANUARY 27, 2012Dominican RepublicDEATH PENALTY
the permanent representative of the Dominican Republic...
the permanent representative of the Dominican Republic...
- JANUARY 20, 2012TunisiaDEATH PENALTY
TUNISIA: HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST PRESIDENT TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY?
General amnesty was recently granted to thousands of detainees in Tunisian prisons in
- JANUARY 18, 2012DEATH PENALTY
WASHINGTON, DC (USA): 14 MEMBERS OF THE ABOLITIONIST ACTION COMMITTEE ARRESTED
14 activists arrested yesterday at U.S. Supreme Court to commemorate 35th anniversary
- JANUARY 18, 2012United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - 14 activists arrested yesterday at U.S. Supreme Court
USA - 14 activists arrested yesterday at U.S. Supreme Court
- JANUARY 5, 2012MongoliaDEATH PENALTY
MONGOLIA: PARLIAMENT PASSES BILL TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY
the Mongolian Parliament approved a bill that aims to scrap the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2012IsraelDEATH PENALTY
The country has been abolitionist for ordinary crimes since 1954.
The country has been abolitionist for ordinary crimes since 1954.
- JANUARY 1, 2012KyrgyzstanDEATH PENALTY
On June 27, 2007 Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev...
On June 27, 2007 Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev signed legislation amending Kyrgyzstan's criminal codes and abolishing the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2012PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
On June 24, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed a law abolishing the death penalty.
On June 24, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed a law abolishing the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2012PalauDEATH PENALTY
Palau abolished the death penalty in 1994.
Palau abolished the death penalty in 1994.
- JANUARY 1, 2012AzerbaijanDEATH PENALTY
Parliament voted for abolition on February 10, 1998 following an initiative by President Ilham Aliyev in January 1998.
Parliament voted for abolition on February 10, 1998 following an initiative by President Ilham Aliyev in January 1998.
- JANUARY 1, 2012UzbekistanDEATH PENALTY
Uzbekistan abolished the death penalty on January 1, 2008.
Uzbekistan abolished the death penalty on January 1, 2008.
- JANUARY 1, 2012PeruDEATH PENALTY
Peru has been abolitionist for common crimes since 1979, when the last execution was held.
Peru has been abolitionist for common crimes since 1979, when the last execution was held.
- JANUARY 1, 2012EgyptDEATH PENALTY
The Egyptian Constitution makes no reference to the death penalty.
The Egyptian Constitution makes no reference to the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2012BelarusDEATH PENALTY
Article 24 of the constitution reads that
Article 24 of the constitution reads that "the death penalty...
- JANUARY 1, 2012LiberiaDEATH PENALTY
On July 15, 2008, the Liberian Senate adopted...
On July 15, 2008, the Liberian Senate adopted a law introducing the death penalty for homicides committed during acts of armed robbery, terrorism or hijacking, confirming a May 7 vote of the Chamber of Representatives. President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who
- JANUARY 1, 2012GambiaDEATH PENALTY
In Gambia, the death penalty was abolished in 1993, but re-established in August 1995 by the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council.
In Gambia, the death penalty was abolished in 1993, but re-established in August 1995 by the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council.
- JANUARY 1, 2012SenegalDEATH PENALTY
On December 10, 2004 Senegal’s National Assembly, with a resounding majority, voted to abolish the death penalty for all crimes.
On December 10, 2004 Senegal’s National Assembly, with a resounding majority, voted to abolish the death penalty for all crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2012Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
In Sierra Leone murder, aggravated robbery and treason are capital crimes.
In Sierra Leone murder, aggravated robbery and treason are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2012FijiDEATH PENALTY
Fiji abolished the death penalty for treason and piracy in February 2002
Fiji abolished the death penalty for treason and piracy in February 2002
- JANUARY 1, 2012Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
Murder, treason and piracy are capital crimes.
Murder, treason and piracy are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2012Solomon IslandsDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished for all crimes in 1966.
The death penalty was abolished for all crimes in 1966.
- JANUARY 1, 2012TogoDEATH PENALTY
On June 23, 2009, Togo's parliament voted unanimously to abolish the death penalty.
On June 23, 2009, Togo's parliament voted unanimously to abolish the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2012IllinoisDEATH PENALTY
On March 9, 2011, Gov. Pat Quinn abolished the death penalty
On March 9, 2011, Gov. Pat Quinn abolished the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2012ChinaDEATH PENALTY
A revised Criminal Procedure Law came into force in January 1997
A revised Criminal Procedure Law came into force in January 1997
- JANUARY 1, 2012BurundiDEATH PENALTY
On April 22, 2009, Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza promulgated the new criminal code
On April 22, 2009, Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza promulgated the new criminal code which abolishes the death penalty but makes homosexuality a crime punishable by jail.