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 29, 2010DEATH PENALTY
AMNESTY: 714 EXECUTIONS IN 2009, EXCLUDING CHINA
in 2009, at least 714 people were put to death in 18 countries and 2001 were
- MARCH 23, 2010BelarusDEATH PENALTY
COUNCIL OF EUROPE DENOUNCES EXECUTIONS IN BELARUS
the Council of Europe denounced the execution of two death row inmates in Belarus.
- MARCH 23, 2010RussiaDEATH PENALTY
GRYZLOV: TERRORISM PREVENTS RUSSIA FROM BANNING THE DEATH PENALTY
Russian State Duma Speaker Boris Gryzlov said Russia has refrained from ratifying Protocol 6 to the
MARCH 18, 2010South KoreaDEATH PENALTYSOUTH KOREA: ASSEMBLY SPEAKER CALLS FOR ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY
The National Assembly speaker demanded the abolition of the death penalty in South
- FEBRUARY 26, 2010ItalyDEATH PENALTY
GENEVA: WORLD CONGRESS AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY- PRESIDED OVER BY HANDS OFF CAIN
the fourth World Congress Against the Death Penalty concluded today in Geneva. It was organised by
- FEBRUARY 24, 2010SpainDEATH PENALTY
GENEVA: CONGRESS OPENS WITH CALL TO END DEATH PENALTY
Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero has told an anti-death penalty conference
- FEBRUARY 22, 2010BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS ON ITS OWN WAY TOWARDS CAPITAL PUNISHMENT BAN
Belarus will seek its own way to ban capital punishment, Nikolai Samoseiko, Chairman
- FEBRUARY 19, 2010KansasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Kansas. Senate Bill 375 to abolish the death penalty fails in Kansas Senate
USA - Kansas. Senate Bill 375 to abolish the death penalty fails in Kansas Senate
- FEBRUARY 11, 2010KyrgyzstanDEATH PENALTY
KYRGYZSTAN: BISHKEK JOINS INTERNATIONAL PROTOCOL ON DEATH PENALTY ABOLITION
The Kyrgyz Parliament approved the Second Option protocol of the International Covenant
- FEBRUARY 10, 2010South DakotaDEATH PENALTY
USA - South Dakota. A bill that would repeal the death penalty passed 12-0 the House State Affairs Committee.
USA - South Dakota. A bill that would repeal the death penalty passed 12-0 the House State Affairs Committee.
FEBRUARY 1, 2010TaiwanDEATH PENALTYTAIWAN: DEATH PENALTY ABOLISHED ONLY AFTER PUBLIC CONSENSUS - JUSTICE MINISTER
Taiwan will gradually push for the abolition of the death penalty after a consensus is formed, Justice Minister Wang Ching-feng said.
- JANUARY 29, 2010KansasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Kansas. The Senate Judiciary Committee passed a bill that would abolish the death penalty.
USA - Kansas. The Senate Judiciary Committee passed a bill that would abolish the death penalty.
JANUARY 28, 2010JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: PRESCRIPTION FOR MURDER TO BE ABOLISHED
a subcommittee of the Legislative Council proposed abolishment of the statute of limitations for crimes
- JANUARY 1, 2010BrazilDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Brazil said
The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Brazil said
- JANUARY 1, 2010BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Belgium abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1996.
Belgium abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1996.
- JANUARY 1, 2010BoliviaDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of Bolivia, under article 17 bars the death penalty.
The Constitution of Bolivia, under article 17 bars the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2010AustriaDEATH PENALTY
The Federal Constitutional Law of the Republic of Austria at Art. 85 states
The Federal Constitutional Law of the Republic of Austria at Art. 85 states "The death penalty is abolished."
- JANUARY 1, 2010AlbaniaDEATH PENALTY
Capital punishment was abolished from the Criminal Code on December 10, 1999...
Capital punishment was abolished from the Criminal Code on December 10, 1999...
- JANUARY 1, 2010AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was formally abolished in Australia in 1985.
The death penalty was formally abolished in Australia in 1985.
- JANUARY 1, 2010ArgentinaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished for ordinary crimes in 1984.
The death penalty was abolished for ordinary crimes in 1984.
- JANUARY 1, 2010BermudaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in 2000.
The death penalty was abolished in 2000.
- JANUARY 1, 2010AngolaDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution approved in 1992 abolished the death penalty.
The Constitution approved in 1992 abolished the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2010TaiwanDEATH PENALTY
On January 8, 2002, Taiwan’s parliament abolished the Act for the Control and Punishment of Banditry...
On January 8, 2002, Taiwan’s parliament abolished the Act for the Control and Punishment of Banditry...
- JANUARY 1, 2010MaineDEATH PENALTY
Maine does not have the death penalty, having abolished...
Maine does not have the death penalty, having abolished it in 1887
- JANUARY 1, 2010MassachusettsDEATH PENALTY
Massachusetts does not have the death penalty
Massachusetts does not have the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2010MinnesotaDEATH PENALTY
Minnesota abolished the death penalty in 1911
Minnesota abolished the death penalty in 1911
- JANUARY 1, 2010West VirginiaDEATH PENALTY
West Virginia abolished the death penalty in 1965
West Virginia abolished the death penalty in 1965
- JANUARY 1, 2010HawaiiDEATH PENALTY
Hawaii does not have the death penalty, having abolished...
Hawaii does not have the death penalty, having abolished it in 1956 before becoming a state
- JANUARY 1, 2010North DakotaDEATH PENALTY
North Dakota does not have the death penalty
North Dakota does not have the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2010Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.
The Vatican formally abolished the death penalty from its constitution in 2001.