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
- MAY 28, 2009NebraskaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Nebraska. Nebraska Changes Execution Method to Lethal Injection.
USA - Nebraska. Nebraska Changes Execution Method to Lethal Injection.
- MAY 25, 2009TogoDEATH PENALTY
TOGO: JUSTICE MINISTER ANNOUNCES DEATH PENALTY ABOLITION
the Justice Minister of Togo, Kokou Biossey Kone', announced that the country will
- MAY 25, 2009ItalyDEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY: SCOTTI- ITALY WORKS TOWARDS NEW UN RESOLUTION
‘Italy and other countries are working towards a new resolution against the death
- MAY 22, 2009DEATH PENALTY
CONNECTICUT (USA): GOV. RELL INTENDS TO VETO DEATH PENALTY
Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell said today she will veto the bill passed in the early
- MAY 22, 2009ConnecticutDEATH PENALTY
USA - Connecticut. Gov. M. Jodi Rell said today she will veto the bill approved this morning as soon as it hits her desk.
USA - Connecticut. Gov. M. Jodi Rell said today she will veto the bill approved this morning as soon as it hits her desk.
- MAY 13, 2009DEATH PENALTY
CONNECTICUT (USA): STATE HOUSE VOTES TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY
The Connecticut House of Representatives passed a bill that replaces the state's
- MAY 6, 2009ColoradoDEATH PENALTY
USA - Colorado. Senate votes against repealing death penalty
USA - Colorado. Senate votes against repealing death penalty
- MAY 4, 2009BarbadosDEATH PENALTY
BARBADOS GOVERNMENT ABOLISHING MANDATORY DEATH SENTENCE
Barbados Attorney General Freundel Stuart confirmed in an interview with the Sunday
- APRIL 29, 2009New HampshireDEATH PENALTY
USA - New Hampshire. The Senate has voted to put off action on an abolition bill
USA - New Hampshire. The Senate has voted to put off action on an abolition bill
- APRIL 23, 2009New HampshireDEATH PENALTY
USA - New Hampshire. The Senate Judiciary Committee recommended 3-2 to change a repeal of the New Hampshire's death penalty law
USA - New Hampshire. The Senate Judiciary Committee recommended 3-2 to change a repeal of the New Hampshire's death penalty law
APRIL 22, 2009BurundiDEATH PENALTYBURUNDI: NEW LEGISLATION ABOLISHES DEATH PENALTY; BANS HOMOSEXUALITY
Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza promulgated the new criminal code which abolishes the death penalty but makes homosexuality a crime punishable by jail.
- APRIL 15, 2009ColoradoDEATH PENALTY
COLORADO (USA): HOUSE VOTES TO END DEATH PENALTY
The Colorado House gave tentative approval today to House Bill 1274, a plan to
- APRIL 15, 2009Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
USA - New Mexico / Italy / Vatican: Governor Bill Richardson met Pope Benedict today before commemorating New Mexico's repeal of the death penalty. then he met Rome's Mayor, Gianni Alemanno
USA - New Mexico / Italy / Vatican: Governor Bill Richardson met Pope Benedict today before commemorating New Mexico's repeal of the death penalty. then he met Rome's Mayor, Gianni Alemanno
- APRIL 3, 2009Congo - KinshasaDEATH PENALTY
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: OLIVIERO TOSCANI WORKS ON CAMPAIGN TO RAISE AWARENESS ON THE DEATH PENALTY
Oliviero Toscani will contribute an African version of the famous 'We, on the death
- MARCH 30, 2009MontanaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Montana. The House Judiciary Committee voted 10-8 against Senate Bill 236, which would abolish the death penalty in the state.
USA - Montana. The House Judiciary Committee voted 10-8 against Senate Bill 236, which would abolish the death penalty in the state.
- MARCH 25, 2009New HampshireDEATH PENALTY
USA - New Hampshire. The House voted today to repeal capital punishment , but governor promises a veto
USA - New Hampshire. The House voted today to repeal capital punishment , but governor promises a veto
MARCH 25, 2009TaiwanDEATH PENALTYTAIWAN: ACTIVISTS URGE END OF DEATH PENALTY FOLLOWING REPORT
anti-capital punishment activists urged the government to follow the global trend and
MARCH 24, 2009United KingdomDEATH PENALTYAMNESTY: 2,390 EXECUTED LAST YEAR
Countries in Asia carried out more executions in 2008 than the rest of the world put
- MARCH 19, 2009United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wisc.) reintroduced legislation today to abolish the death penalty at the federal level.
USA - U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-Wisc.) reintroduced legislation today to abolish the death penalty at the federal level.
- MARCH 18, 2009DEATH PENALTY
NEW MEXICO (USA): GOVENOR SIGNS LAW ABOLISHING DEATH PENALTY
Gov. Bill Richardson signed legislation today repealing New Mexico's death penalty. Richardson, a Democrat who formerly supported capital punishment, said signing the bill was the "most difficult decision" of his political life but that "the potential for
- MARCH 18, 2009New MexicoDEATH PENALTY
USA - New Mexico. Gov. Bill Richardson signed legislation today repealing the death penalty.
USA - New Mexico. Gov. Bill Richardson signed legislation today repealing the death penalty.
- MARCH 16, 2009KansasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Kansas. Senators sent a bill repealing Kansas’ death-penalty law back to a committee, likely averting any action on the measure this year.
USA - Kansas. Senators sent a bill repealing Kansas’ death-penalty law back to a committee, likely averting any action on the measure this year.
- MARCH 14, 2009MarylandDEATH PENALTY
USA - Maryland. Gov. Martin O'Malley says he is giving up on an effort to repeal the death penalty
USA - Maryland. Gov. Martin O'Malley says he is giving up on an effort to repeal the death penalty
- MARCH 10, 2009New MexicoDEATH PENALTY
USA - New Mexico. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 6-5 to pass House Bill 285 that would abolish the death penalty to the Senate floor.
USA - New Mexico. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 6-5 to pass House Bill 285 that would abolish the death penalty to the Senate floor.
- MARCH 9, 2009DEATH PENALTY
NEW MEXICO (USA): SENATE COMMITTEE OKS DEATH PENALTY REPEAL
legislation abolishing New Mexico's death penalty cleared the Senate Judiciary
- MARCH 5, 2009MontanaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Montana. A letter to the legislators signed by 80 reverends, rabbis, pastors and preachers urges support of a bill that would replace the death penalty
USA - Montana. A letter to the legislators signed by 80 reverends, rabbis, pastors and preachers urges support of a bill that would replace the death penalty
- MARCH 4, 2009KansasDEATH PENALTY
USA - Kansas. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 6-5 to send a bill that would abolish the death penalty to an interim study committee
USA - Kansas. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 6-5 to send a bill that would abolish the death penalty to an interim study committee
- MARCH 3, 2009ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALY: PROTOCOL ABOLISHING DEATH PENALTY IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES RATIFIED
Italy ratified Protocol 13 to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental
- FEBRUARY 27, 2009MarylandDEATH PENALTY
USA - Maryland. The Judicial Proceedings Committee of the Senate rejected a bill that would abolish the death penalty
USA - Maryland. The Judicial Proceedings Committee of the Senate rejected a bill that would abolish the death penalty
FEBRUARY 25, 2009DEATH PENALTYUSA: GLOBAL FINANCIAL CRISIS COULD PUT AN END TO DEATH PENALTY
A clutch of American states are considering whether to abolish capital punishment because of the