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
- JANUARY 1, 2010BurundiDEATH PENALTY
On April 22, 2009, Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza promulgated
On April 22, 2009, Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza promulgated
- JANUARY 1, 2010TogoDEATH 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, 2010FijiDEATH 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, 2010Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
Murder, treason and piracy are capital crimes.
Murder, treason and piracy are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2010GambiaDEATH 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, 2010Sierra 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, 2010SenegalDEATH 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.
- DECEMBER 17, 2009United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Death Penalty Information Center has publisher the "Year Report"
USA - Death Penalty Information Center has publisher the "Year Report"
DECEMBER 16, 2009Palestinian TerritoriesDEATH PENALTYPA: SECOND PALESTINIAN CONFERENCE AGAINST DEATH PENALTY HELD IN RAMALLAH
The Second Palestinian National Conference for the Abolition of the Death Penalty concluded in Ramallah,
DECEMBER 2, 2009JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: MINISTER- IT WON’T BE EASY BUT WE WILL ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY
the Japanese Government will work to abolish the death penalty, Financial Services
NOVEMBER 30, 2009BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS STARTS CAMPAIGN ON ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY
Belarus will soon launch an information campaign to press for the abolition
NOVEMBER 19, 2009RussiaDEATH PENALTYRUSSIA: CONSTITUTIONAL COURT EXTENDS MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY
Russia's Constitutional Court prolonged a moratorium on the death penalty, which was due to expire on January 1, until it is banned completely.
- NOVEMBER 9, 2009IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: PLEA FOR ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY
Justice Ajit Singh Bains, president of the Punjab Human Rights Organisation, appealed for the abolition of the capital punishment in India.
NOVEMBER 9, 2009RussiaDEATH PENALTYRUSSIA: PRESIDENT FAVORS GRADUAL ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev favors the gradual abolition of the death penalty, Presidential
NOVEMBER 3, 2009KyrgyzstanDEATH PENALTYKYRGYZSTAN: PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE SENDS DRAFT LAW TO PARLIAMENT
the Parliamentary Committee sent the draft law on Kyrgyzstan's signature of the Second Optional Protocol
- OCTOBER 21, 2009BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS SHOULD IMPOSE MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY – EU COMMISSION
the abolition of the death penalty in Belarus is one of the key conditions for developing the relations between the European Union and Minsk, said Jean-Eric Holzapfel, head of the European Commission's delegation to Belarus.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2009RwandaDEATH PENALTYAU URGES MEMBERS TO EMULATE RWANDA ON DEATH PENALTY
fifty participants representing different African Union member states and national human rights commissions appealed to African countries to emulate Rwanda and abolish the death penalty.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2009TanzaniaDEATH PENALTYTANZANIA: UN CALLS FOR ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY
the UN Human Rights Committee called on the Tanzanian Government to seriously consider abolishing
- SEPTEMBER 17, 2009New MexicoDEATH PENALTY
USA - New Mexico. Prosecutors can still seek the death penalty despite New Mexico's repeal of the death penalty
USA - New Mexico. Prosecutors can still seek the death penalty despite New Mexico's repeal of the death penalty
- SEPTEMBER 17, 2009PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN: PROPOSAL TO END DEATH SENTENCE NOT TO COVER TERRORISTS
Pakistan said terrorists sentenced to death will not be pardoned if capital punishment is abolished in the country.
- SEPTEMBER 8, 2009RussiaDEATH PENALTY
RUSSIA: DEATH PENALTY MORATORIUM WILL REMAIN
the Kremlin says Russia will continue to maintain a moratorium on capital punishment.
AUGUST 29, 2009LebanonDEATH PENALTYLEBANON: JUSTICE MINISTRY CAMPAIGNS TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY
The Justice Ministry in Lebanon has launched a nationwide campaign this week to rally public support for
JULY 29, 2009ItalyDEATH PENALTYDEATH PENALTY: “HANDS OFF CAIN” CONTINUES AROUND THE WORLD TOWARDS THE ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
the positive evolution around the world over the last ten years towards the abolition of
JULY 29, 2009ItalyDEATH PENALTY“ABOLITIONIST OF THE YEAR 2009”: NAPOLITANO- APPLAUSE FOR NEW MEXICO GOVERNOR AND PARLIAMENTARIAN, PRIZE WINNERS
“Italy has always been first in line against the death penalty” and it is “an obligation to continue to fight for the inviolability of life and against the culture of death.” This was the warning of the President of the Republic, Giorgio Napolitano, agai
- JULY 21, 2009United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - The European Union criticises US over death penalty
USA - The European Union criticises US over death penalty
- JUNE 24, 2009MarylandDEATH PENALTY
USA - Maryland. Gov. Martin O'Malley's administration issued new regulations that could clear the way for Maryland to resume executions
USA - Maryland. Gov. Martin O'Malley's administration issued new regulations that could clear the way for Maryland to resume executions
JUNE 23, 2009TogoDEATH PENALTYTOGO ABOLISHES THE DEATH PENALTY
Togo's parliament voted unanimously to abolish the death penalty.
JUNE 14, 2009Congo - KinshasaDEATH PENALTYHANDS OFF CAIN: POSITIVE INITIATIVE IN THE DRC
the seminar that followed the June 10th Conference in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo on the abolition of capital punishment has ended. The seminar topic was communication regarding the death penalty.
- JUNE 11, 2009BelarusDEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY ABOLITION IN BELARUS DISCUSSED
the issue of death penalty abolition in Belarus is being discussed, Valery Mitskevich, Deputy Head of the Administration of the President of Belarus, told reporters in the House of Representatives of the National Assembly.
JUNE 11, 2009Congo - KinshasaDEATH PENALTYDEATH PENALTY: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO STARTS TOWARDS ABOLITION WITH A LEGAL MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS
Hands Off Cain organised a conference in Kinshasa against the death penalty in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that was sponsorsed by the Congolese National Assembly President and Senate President, with the contribution of the Minister of Foreign A