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 24, 2006KazakhstanDEATH PENALTY
KAZAKHSTAN. CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL PROPOSES TO KEEP DEATH PENALTY FOR TERRORISM
the Constitutional Council of Kazakhstan proposed to keep the death penalty as a punishment for terrorism.
- MAY 17, 2006PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
THE PHILIPPINES. HOUSE STARTS DEBATES ON BILL ABOLISHING DEATH PENALTY
the House Representatives began floor debates on the abolition of the death penalty in the country as contained in a bill certified as urgent by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
- APRIL 28, 2006RussiaDEATH PENALTY
RUSSIA. FEDERATION COUNCIL MEMBER SUPPORTS DEATH PENALTY ABOLITION
the abolition of death penalty in Russia will help the extradition of criminals and terrorists, who are hiding abroad, Chairman of the Federation Council International Affairs Committee Mikhail Margelov said, referring to prospects for Russia’s ratificati
- APRIL 19, 2006United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
CHINA, IRAN, SAUDI, US MAIN EXECUTIONERS, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
more than 2,000 people were known to have been executed around the world last year, the vast majority of them in China, followed by Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United States, Amnesty International said.
- APRIL 18, 2006PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
THE PHILIPPINES. PRESIDENT WOULD SUPPORT BILL TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY
President Gloria Arroyo would support legislation to abolish the death penalty despite widespread public support in the Philippines for judicial executions, her spokesman said.
- APRIL 12, 2006Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
PAPUA NEW GUINEA. DEATH PENALTY COULD BE ABOLISHED
new Justice Minister Bire Kimisopa said during a press conference in Port Moresby that Papua New Guinea was not yet ready to impose the death penalty.
- APRIL 5, 2006RussiaDEATH PENALTY
RUSSIA. COUNCIL OF EUROPE URGES RUSSIA TO ABOLISH CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
the Council of Europe's envoys urged Russia to fulfill its pledge to abolish the death penalty as it prepared to take over the rotating presidency in the continent's top human rights body.
- APRIL 4, 2006South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
SOUTH KOREA. ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY, CATHOLIC, OTHER RELIGIOUS LEADERS URGE GOVERNMENT
the Pan-Religion Union for the Abolition of the Death Penalty held a press conference in South Korea’s National Assembly building and released a statement calling for an urgent end to capital punishment.
- MARCH 21, 2006MalaysiaDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIA. LAW MINISTER SUPPORTS CALLS TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY
Nazri Aziz, Malaysian Cabinet Minister in charge of law in the Prime Minister’s Department, said he supported calls for abolishing Malaysia’s death penalty, which was largely used against drug traffickers.
- MARCH 13, 2006South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
SOUTH KOREA. CATHOLIC CHURCH PETITION AGAINST DEATH PENALTY
The Committee for the Abolition of Capital Punishment of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Korea (CBCK) has announced that it will present the government with a petition calling for the abolition of capital punishment in the country.
- MARCH 6, 2006South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
SOUTH KOREA. CATHOLICS IN SOUTH KOREA SEEK ABOLISHMENT OF DEATH PENALTY
about 115,800 Roman Catholics in South Korea signed their names on a petition calling to abolish capital punishment, the Catholic organization Committee for Justice and Peace (CJP) said.
- FEBRUARY 26, 2006South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
SOUTH KOREA. FORMER PRESIDENT CALLS FOR ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY
former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung called for scrapping the death penalty as his nation showed signs of ending the controversial practice.
- FEBRUARY 22, 2006PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
THE PHILIPPINES. ARROYO: I'LL WORK TO SCRAP DEATH PENALTY
for the first time since taking office in 2001, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo categorically stated that she was for scrapping capital punishment and that she would see to the immediate passage of legislation to abolish the Death Penalty Law.
- FEBRUARY 16, 2006New HampshireDEATH PENALTY
House rejects bill to repeal death penalty
in Concord, the New Hampshire House soundly rejected a bill to repeal the death penalty
- FEBRUARY 9, 2006RussiaDEATH PENALTY
RUSSIA. PUTIN'S HUMAN RIGHTS ADVISOR URGES DEATH PENALTY ABOLITION
Russia should abolish the death penalty in the near future, presidential council for civil society and human rights development Chairman Ella Pamfilova said.
- FEBRUARY 7, 2006RussiaDEATH PENALTY
RUSSIA. STEPS MAY BE TAKEN TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY, PUTIN
Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested he might take steps towards abolishing the death penalty in Russia.
- FEBRUARY 1, 2006RussiaDEATH PENALTY
RUSSIA. "NO MAJORITY SUPPORT" FOR DEATH PENALTY ABOLITION, KOSACHEV
according to Konstantin Kosachev, head of the State Duma committee for international affairs, there was no majority support in Russia for the abolition of the death penalty.
- JANUARY 17, 2006MexicoDEATH PENALTY
EUROPEAN UNION. EU WELCOMES ABOLISHMENT OF DEATH PENALTY IN MEXICO
in a statement issued on behalf of the EU by the Austrian Presidency on the full abolition of the death penalty in Mexico...
- JANUARY 10, 2006KyrgyzstanDEATH PENALTY
EUROPEAN UNION. EU SUPPORTS KYRGYZ MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY
the European Union has welcomed Kyrgyzstan's decision to prolong its moratorium on the death penalty.
- JANUARY 4, 2006FranceDEATH PENALTY
the President of France’s communist party, Nicole Borvo...
the President of France’s communist party, Nicole Borvo, welcomed as a “positive step by France” the decision taken by President Chirac to review the constitution in order to include the abolition of the death penalty “under all circumstances”.
- JANUARY 1, 2006TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been fully abolished by a package of constitutional and legislative amendments.
The death penalty has been fully abolished by a package of constitutional and legislative amendments.
- JANUARY 1, 2006KenyaDEATH PENALTY
Murder, treason and armed robbery are capital crimes.
Murder, treason and armed robbery are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2006United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
The United Kingdom abolished the death penalty for murder on December 18...
The United Kingdom abolished the death penalty for murder on December 18...
- JANUARY 1, 2006LiberiaDEATH PENALTY
Liberian law includes the possibility of the death penalty.
Liberian law includes the possibility of the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2006GuatemalaDEATH PENALTY
The Guatemalan penal code (1973) provides for the death penalty for parricide...
The Guatemalan penal code (1973) provides for the death penalty for parricide, aggravated homicide and assassination of the President or Vice-President.
- JANUARY 1, 2006PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
On June 24, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed a law abolishing the death penalty.
On June 24, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed a law abolishing the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2006TaiwanDEATH 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, 2006KyrgyzstanDEATH PENALTY
On December 29, 2005 Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev pledged to eliminate the death penalty...
On December 29, 2005 Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev pledged to eliminate the death penalty...
- JANUARY 1, 2006SlovakiaDEATH PENALTY
Slovakia abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1990.
Slovakia abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1990.
- JANUARY 1, 2006UzbekistanDEATH PENALTY
With the introduction of law No. 482-II on April 25...
With the introduction of law No. 482-II on April 25...