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 20, 2005Hungary
DEATH PENALTY
Hungary was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
Hungary was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
APRIL 20, 2005Italy
DEATH PENALTY
Italy was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
Italy was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
APRIL 20, 2005Honduras
DEATH PENALTY
Honduras was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
Honduras was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
APRIL 20, 2005Mexico
DEATH PENALTY
Mexico was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
Mexico was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
APRIL 20, 2005Germany
DEATH PENALTY
Germany was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
Germany was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
APRIL 20, 2005Romania
DEATH PENALTY
Romania was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
Romania was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
APRIL 20, 2005Netherlands
DEATH PENALTY
Netherlands was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
Netherlands was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
APRIL 20, 2005Peru
DEATH PENALTY
Peru was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
Peru was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
APRIL 20, 2005Egypt
DEATH PENALTY
Egypt voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
Egypt voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
APRIL 20, 2005South Africa
DEATH PENALTY
South Africa was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
South Africa was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
APRIL 20, 2005China
DEATH PENALTY
China voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
China voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
APRIL 20, 2005Nepal
DEATH PENALTY
Nepal voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
Nepal voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
APRIL 20, 2005Ukraine
DEATH PENALTY
Ukraine was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
Ukraine was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
APRIL 20, 2005Russia
DEATH PENALTY
Russian Federation was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
Russian Federation was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
APRIL 20, 2005Ethiopia
DEATH PENALTY
Ethiopia voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
Ethiopia voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
APRIL 20, 2005Bhutan
DEATH PENALTY
Bhutan voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
Bhutan voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
APRIL 20, 2005Eritrea
DEATH PENALTY
Eritrea voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
Eritrea voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
APRIL 20, 2005United Kingdom
DEATH PENALTY
UNITED KINGDOM - Co-sponsor and vote in favour of the UN Commission resolution on abolition
United Kingdom was a cosponUnited Kingdom was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.sor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Huma
APRIL 20, 2005Mauritania
DEATH PENALTY
Mauritania voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
Mauritania voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
APRIL 20, 2005Sudan
DEATH PENALTY
Sudan voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
Sudan voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
APRIL 20, 2005Saudi Arabia
DEATH PENALTY
Saudi Arabia voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
Saudi Arabia voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
APRIL 20, 2005Malaysia
DEATH PENALTY
Malaysia voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
Malaysia voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
APRIL 20, 2005Eswatini
DEATH PENALTY
Swaziland voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
Swaziland voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
APRIL 20, 2005Indonesia
DEATH PENALTY
Indonesia voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
Indonesia voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
APRIL 20, 2005Pakistan
DEATH PENALTY
Pakistan voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
Pakistan voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
APRIL 20, 2005Qatar
DEATH PENALTY
Qatar voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
Qatar voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
APRIL 20, 2005Japan
DEATH PENALTY
Japan voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
Japan voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
APRIL 20, 2005United States
DEATH PENALTY
United States voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
United States voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
APRIL 20, 2005Congo - Brazzaville
DEATH PENALTY
Congo abstained from the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
Congo abstained from the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
APRIL 20, 2005Guatemala
DEATH PENALTY
Guatemala abstained from the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.
Guatemala abstained from the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.

The most recurrent countries

Italy141
United States76
Russia66
Türkiye56
Japan50
European Union49
Taiwan49
Philippines48
South Korea42
Belarus38

The battle it belongs to

Death penalty

The abolition of the death penalty

Hungary was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.

Italy was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.

Honduras was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.

Mexico was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.

Germany was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.

Romania was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.

Netherlands was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.

Peru was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.

Egypt voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.

South Africa was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.

China voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.

Nepal voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.

Ukraine was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.

Russian Federation was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.

Ethiopia voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.

Bhutan voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.

Eritrea voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.

UNITED KINGDOM - Co-sponsor and vote in favour of the UN Commission resolution on abolition

Mauritania voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.

Sudan voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.

Saudi Arabia voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.

Malaysia voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.

Swaziland voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.

Indonesia voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.

Pakistan voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.

Qatar voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.

Japan voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.

United States voted against the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.

Congo abstained from the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.

Guatemala abstained from the resolution on the death penalty at the 61st UN Commission on Human Rights.

The most recurrent countries

The battle it belongs to