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
- APRIL 26, 2020Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
SAUDI ARABIA ABOLISHES FLOGGING AS PUNISHMENT
Saudi Arabia has abolished flogging as a form of punishment, the country's supreme court announced on 25 April 2020.
APRIL 22, 2020DEATH PENALTYAMNESTY: SAUDI ARABIA EXECUTED RECORD NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN 2019 AMID DECLINE IN GLOBAL EXECUTIONS
Amnesty International recorded 657 executions in 20 countries in 2019, a decrease of 5% compared to 2018 (at least 690). This is the lowest number of executions that Amnesty International has recorded in at least a decade.
APRIL 16, 2020OklahomaDEATH PENALTYUSA - Pennsylvania. Federal Court Approves Settlement of Death-Row Conditions Lawsuit.
USA - Pennsylvania. Federal Court Approves Settlement of Death-Row Conditions Lawsuit.
- APRIL 8, 2020United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY PROJECT PUBLISHES LATEST REPORT ON THE DEATH PENALTY IN THE CARIBBEAN
“The Death Penalty Project” on 7 April 2020 published its latest report: “Sentenced to Death Without Execution: Why capital punishment has not yet been abolished in the Eastern Caribbean and Barbados” by Professor Roger Hood and Dr Florence Seemungal with
- APRIL 4, 2020DEATH PENALTY
IRAN HUMAN RIGHTS PUBLISHES ITS 'ANNUAL DEATH PENALTY REPORT IN IRAN IN 2019': 280 EXECUTIONS
The 12th annual report on the death penalty by Iran Human Rights (IHR) and ECPM (Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort/Together Against the Death Penalty), published on 31 March 2020, provides an assessment and analysis of the death penalty trends in 2019 in t
- MARCH 23, 2020ColoradoDEATH PENALTY
USA - Colorado. Colorado Abolishes Death Penalty.
USA - Colorado. Colorado Abolishes Death Penalty.
- MARCH 7, 2020WashingtonDEATH PENALTY
USA - Washington. HB 1488 to abolish death penalty did not come up for a vote on the floor of the state House by the March 7 deadline
USA - Washington. HB 1488 to abolish death penalty did not come up for a vote on the floor of the state House by the March 7 deadline
- FEBRUARY 27, 2020DEATH PENALTY
COLORADO (USA): LEGISLATURE VOTES TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY
The Colorado legislature has sent to the Governor a bill that would prospectively abolish the state’s death penalty.
- FEBRUARY 27, 2020WashingtonDEATH PENALTY
USA - Washington. House Committee passed HB 1488 to remove the death penalty from the state’s statute books.
USA - Washington. House Committee passed HB 1488 to remove the death penalty from the state’s statute books.
FEBRUARY 26, 2020ColoradoDEATH PENALTYUSA - Colorado. Colorado Legislature Votes to Abolish Death Penalty.
USA - Colorado. Colorado Legislature Votes to Abolish Death Penalty.
- FEBRUARY 13, 2020NebraskaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Nebraska. The Legislature advanced LB 238 that would ensure a more transparent execution
USA - Nebraska. The Legislature advanced LB 238 that would ensure a more transparent execution
- FEBRUARY 5, 2020VirginiaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Virginia. Abolitionist bill SB 449 deferred until next year.
USA - Virginia. Abolitionist bill SB 449 deferred until next year.
- JANUARY 30, 2020BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS: PARLIAMENT TO LOOK INTO DEATH PENALTY ABOLITION
The Council of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus has decided to establish a working group on studying abolition of death penalty at the National Assembly.
- JANUARY 30, 2020ColoradoDEATH PENALTY
USA - Virginia. Senate passed SB 116 to bar the death penalty for severe mental illness
USA - Virginia. Senate passed SB 116 to bar the death penalty for severe mental illness
JANUARY 21, 2020JapanDEATH PENALTYJAPAN: GOVERNMENT POLL SHOWS 81% APPROVE DEATH PENALTY
A Japanese government survey shows about 80 percent of respondents support maintaining the death penalty.
JANUARY 15, 2020MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: DEATH PENALTY WON’T BE TOTALLY ABOLISHED, COMMITTEE TELLS VICTIMS’ FAMILIES
The special committee looking into the abolishment of the mandatory death penalty on 15 January 2020 assured the families of murder victims that the court will still have the discretionary powers to decide on whether to impose the sentence.
- JANUARY 1, 2020SerbiaDEATH PENALTY
Serbia abolished the death penalty for all crimes on February 26, 2002
Serbia abolished the death penalty for all crimes on February 26, 2002
- JANUARY 1, 2020GeorgiaDEATH PENALTY
Georgia abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1997.
Georgia abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1997.
- JANUARY 1, 2020ParaguayDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of Paraguay (1992) at Art. 4,
The Constitution of Paraguay (1992) at Art. 4, "The Right to life," states in part: "The death penalty is abolished."
- JANUARY 1, 2020Puerto RicoDEATH PENALTY
The prohibition of the death penalty is enshrined in the 1952 Bill of Rights, incorporated in Article II of the Constitution.
The prohibition of the death penalty is enshrined in the 1952 Bill of Rights, incorporated in Article II of the Constitution.
- JANUARY 1, 2020LiechtensteinDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished for all crimes in 1987.
The death penalty was abolished for all crimes in 1987.
- JANUARY 1, 2020El SalvadorDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in El Salvador in 1983 for all crimes
The death penalty was abolished in El Salvador in 1983 for all crimes
- JANUARY 1, 2020SurinameDEATH PENALTY
Aggravated murder premeditated murder and treason are capital crimes.
Aggravated murder premeditated murder and treason are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2020PeruDEATH 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, 2020DenmarkDEATH PENALTY
Denmark has been abolitionist since 1978.
Denmark has been abolitionist since 1978.
- JANUARY 1, 2020New JerseyDEATH PENALTY
The method of execution is injection.
The method of execution is injection.
- JANUARY 1, 2020MongoliaDEATH PENALTY
On 3 December 2015, Mongolia’s parliament voted in favour of a new Criminal Code
On 3 December 2015, Mongolia’s parliament voted in favour of a new Criminal Code that abolishes the death penalty for all crimes
- JANUARY 1, 2020IsraelDEATH PENALTY
The country has been abolitionist for ordinary crimes since 1954.
The country has been abolitionist for ordinary crimes since 1954.
- JANUARY 1, 2020MaliDEATH PENALTY
Death sentences are given in Mali for serious crimes such as assassinations...
Death sentences are given in Mali for serious crimes such as assassinations...
- JANUARY 1, 2020IllinoisDEATH PENALTY
On March 9, 2011, Gov. Pat Quinn abolished the death penalty
On March 9, 2011, Gov. Pat Quinn abolished the death penalty