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, 2009LiberiaDEATH 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
DECEMBER 19, 2008JamaicaDEATH PENALTYJAMAICAN MPS VOTE TO KEEP DEATH PENALTY
Jamaica's senate voted to retain the death penalty, a punishment that has not been carried out in the country
DECEMBER 18, 2008ItalyDEATH PENALTYDEATH PENALTY: UN APPROVES NEW PRO MORATORIUM RESOLUTION
the United Nations General Assembly approved the resolution for the moratorium on the death penalty for the second consecutive year, with 106 in favour, 46 against and 34 abstentions.
- DECEMBER 12, 2008MarylandDEATH PENALTY
USA - Maryland. The Maryland Commission on Capital Punishment issued a report today calling for the abolition
USA - Maryland. The Maryland Commission on Capital Punishment issued a report today calling for the abolition
DECEMBER 12, 2008UzbekistanDEATH PENALTYUZBEKISTAN JOINS INTERNATIONAL PROTOCOL ABOLISHING DEATH PENALTY
Uzbek President Islam Karimov signed the law "The accession by the Republic of Uzbekistan to the
- DECEMBER 10, 2008TanzaniaDEATH PENALTY
Human rights activists called for an end to the death penalty in Tanzania
Human rights activists called for an end to the death penalty in Tanzania
DECEMBER 10, 2008TogoDEATH PENALTYTOGOLESE CABINET RESOLVES TO ABOLISH DEATH SENTENCE
Oulegoh Keyewa, the Togolese Minister for Communication and Culture, read a statement announcing
DECEMBER 6, 2008AlgeriaDEATH PENALTYALGERIAN MPS WANT TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY
a group of Algerian parliamentarians filed a bill aimed at abolishing capital punishment, amove
NOVEMBER 30, 2008NigeriaDEATH PENALTYAFRICA'S HUMAN RIGHTS BODY TAKES A STANCE AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY
the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) called for a moratorium on executions
NOVEMBER 25, 2008TanzaniaDEATH PENALTYTANZANIA: ABOLISHING DEATH PENALTY AMID ALBINO KILLINGS UNREALISTIC
the Tanzanian Government said that the proposal to abolish the death penalty has come at the wrong time
NOVEMBER 25, 2008LebanonDEATH PENALTYLEBANON: PUBLIC MUST WAIT FOR FULL ABOLITION PLAN
the Lebanese government will use television to gain maximum attention for its plan to abolish the death
- NOVEMBER 22, 2008PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAK GOVT PROCESSING ABOLITION OF DEATH SENTENCE
the Pakistan Government is considering a proposal to abolish the death penalty in the country.
NOVEMBER 21, 2008BurundiDEATH PENALTYBURUNDI ABOLISHES DEATH PENALTY, OUTLAWS HOMOSEXUALS
Burundi's parliament overwhelmingly agreed to abolish the death penalty, but homosexuals
NOVEMBER 15, 2008Palestinian TerritoriesDEATH PENALTYPNA. PALESTINIAN HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP CALLS FOR MORATORIUM ON THE DEATH PENALTY
the Gaza City-based Palestinian Centre for Human Rights wrote a report on the death sentence by a military
- NOVEMBER 13, 2008IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
INDONESIAN FOREIGN MINISTER SPEAKS OUT ON DEATH PENALTY
while addressing the Australian media after the talks, Indonesia's Foreign Minister, Hassan Wirajuda, said that "It's not only that Australia and Indonesia are divided on the issue of capital punishment. The fact is that the whole world is divided into gr
- NOVEMBER 5, 2008TaiwanDEATH PENALTY
TAIWAN: FRENCH EXPERT URGES POLITICAL LEADERS TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY
in abolishing the death penalty, political leaders should take the responsibility of "leading the people" instead of following public opinion, as "they are elected to make the decision," a French anti-death penalty activist said in Taiwan
- NOVEMBER 4, 2008Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
AI COMMEMORATES HUMAN RIGHTS ANNIVERSARY IN SIERRA LEONE
the Sierra Leone chapter of Amnesty commemorated the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
NOVEMBER 4, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: JUSTICE MINISTER SAYS ABOLISHING DEATH PENALTY "NOT APPROPRIATE"
Japanese Justice Minister Eisuke Mori said it is not acceptable to abolish the death penalty. "It is not appropriate to terminate capital punishment," he told a press conference after the Cabinet meeting.
- OCTOBER 30, 2008JordanDEATH PENALTY
anti-death penalty campaigners are urging Arab governments to rethink their positions on state executions in the run up to a key vote in the United Nations
anti-death penalty campaigners are urging Arab governments to rethink their positions on state executions in the run up to a key vote in the United Nations
- OCTOBER 30, 2008JapanDEATH PENALTY
UN RIGHTS PANEL URGES JAPAN TO END CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
the Geneva-based Human Rights Committee urged Japan to consider abolishing the death penalty despite overall domestic public opinion in its favour.
- OCTOBER 28, 2008BelarusDEATH PENALTY
Amnesty International is launching a campaign to have the death penalty in Belarus abolished
Amnesty International is launching a campaign to have the death penalty in Belarus abolished
- OCTOBER 24, 2008KazakhstanDEATH PENALTY
the European Union hopes for complete abolition of the death penalty in Central Asia
the European Union hopes for complete abolition of the death penalty in Central Asia
- OCTOBER 23, 2008VietnamDEATH PENALTY
the existence of capital punishment in Vietnam 's criminal code is still necessary to deal with certain extremely dangerous crimes
the existence of capital punishment in Vietnam 's criminal code is still necessary to deal with certain extremely dangerous crimes
OCTOBER 12, 2008AlgeriaDEATH PENALTYALGERIA: REZAG BARA CALLS FOR DEFINITELY ABOLISHING DEATH PENALTY
Algerian President Bouteflika’s advisor in charge of Human Rights, Rezag Bara, wanted an ultimate decision to be made concerning the death penalty in Algeria.
- OCTOBER 11, 2008MoroccoDEATH PENALTY
Moroccan and international politicians, religious leaders and campaigners held advanced discussions in Rabat for World Day Against the Death Penalty
Moroccan and international politicians, religious leaders and campaigners held advanced discussions in Rabat for World Day Against the Death Penalty
- OCTOBER 10, 2008RussiaDEATH PENALTY
leading Russian human rights organizations believe Russia should completely abolish the death penalty
leading Russian human rights organizations believe Russia should completely abolish the death penalty
OCTOBER 10, 2008TaiwanDEATH PENALTYTAIWAN. MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY TO BE DISCUSSED
the European Economic and Trade Office (EETO) in Taiwan, The French Institute in Taiwan, National
OCTOBER 10, 2008ItalyDEATH PENALTYDEATH PENALTY. HANDS OFF CAIN PRESENTS DOSSIER
For the European Day Against Capital Punishment, Hands Off Cain presented a dossier entitled "The death penalty around the world - THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTS OF THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 2008". The global trend towards the abolition of the death penalty cont
OCTOBER 10, 2008ItalyDEATH PENALTYITALIAN CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES. CELEBRATION: EUROPEAN DAY AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY
"Today is an important occasion to remember the struggle at the United Nations for the adoption of the resolution for the Moratorium on capital punishment. We also renew the commitment by institutions and civil society to not lower our guard," Giorgio Nap
OCTOBER 10, 2008LebanonDEATH PENALTYLEBANON: NAJJAR PRESENTS DRAFT LAW TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY
Lebanese Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar presented a draft law to the Cabinet that would abolish the death penalty and replace it with life in prison at hard labor.