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, 2003South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
South Africa, throughout four decades of institutionalized...
South Africa, throughout four decades of institutionalized racial discrimination, South Africa became one of the world's leading execution centers
- JANUARY 1, 2003KyrgyzstanDEATH PENALTY
A new Penal Code entered into force in January 1998...
A new Penal Code entered into force in January 1998 and reduced the number of capital crimes, also replacing the death penalty with a maximum of 30 years
- JANUARY 1, 2003VenezuelaDEATH PENALTY
In 1863 Venezuela formally abolished the death penalty,...
In 1863 Venezuela formally abolished the death penalty, making it the first modern state to do so
- JANUARY 1, 2003SpainDEATH PENALTY
Spain became completely abolitionist in 1995
Spain became completely abolitionist in 1995
- JANUARY 1, 2003SloveniaDEATH PENALTY
Slovenia abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1989
Slovenia abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1989
- JANUARY 1, 2003MoldovaDEATH PENALTY
Moldova abolished the death penalty for all crimes...
Moldova abolished the death penalty for all crimes in December 1995
- JANUARY 1, 2003PolandDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished despite vocal campaigning...
The death penalty was abolished despite vocal campaigning by right-wing activists who pointed out that more than 60 percent of Poles supported capital punishment for brutal murders
- JANUARY 1, 2003San MarinoDEATH PENALTY
San Marino abolished the death penalty for ordinary...
San Marino abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1848 and fully abolished it in 1865
- JANUARY 1, 2003RomaniaDEATH PENALTY
Romania abolished the death penalty in 1989
Romania abolished the death penalty in 1989
- JANUARY 1, 2003GermanyDEATH PENALTY
The Federal Republic of Germany abolished the death...
The Federal Republic of Germany abolished the death penalty in 1949
- JANUARY 1, 2003SloveniaDEATH PENALTY
Slovenia abolished the death penalty while it was still...
Slovenia abolished the death penalty while it was still a member of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
- JANUARY 1, 2003LiechtensteinDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished for all crimes in 1987
The death penalty was abolished for all crimes in 1987
- JANUARY 1, 2003HungaryDEATH PENALTY
Hungary has been abolitionist since 1990, following...
Hungary has been abolitionist since 1990, following a decision by the Constitutional Court
- JANUARY 1, 2003IrelandDEATH PENALTY
Ireland abolished the death penalty in 1990
Ireland abolished the death penalty in 1990
- JANUARY 1, 2003BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Belgium abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1996
Belgium abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1996
- JANUARY 1, 2003LatviaDEATH PENALTY
On April 15, 1999, Parliament voted to abolish the...
On April 15, 1999, Parliament voted to abolish the death penalty for crimes committed in peacetime
- JANUARY 1, 2003NorwayDEATH PENALTY
Abolitionist for common crimes since 1905, Norway has...
Abolitionist for common crimes since 1905, Norway has been fully abolitionist since 1979
- JANUARY 1, 2003BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
The Bulgarian Vice-President commuted the 21 death...
The Bulgarian Vice-President commuted the 21 death sentences passed between 1990 and 1998 to life imprisonment upon the abolition of the death penalty in December 1998
- JANUARY 1, 2003CzechiaDEATH PENALTY
The Czech Republic abolished the death penalty in 1990
The Czech Republic abolished the death penalty in 1990
- JANUARY 1, 2003LithuaniaDEATH PENALTY
At the time of abolition in 1998, nine prisoners were...
At the time of abolition in 1998, nine prisoners were thought to be on death row
- JANUARY 1, 2003SwitzerlandDEATH PENALTY
After abolishing the death penalty for ordinary crimes...
After abolishing the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1942, Switzerland became fully abolitionist in 1992
- JANUARY 1, 2003AlbaniaDEATH PENALTY
Capital punishment was abolished from the Criminal...
Capital punishment was abolished from the Criminal Code on December 10, 1999, when the Constitutional Court considered the death penalty to be against the spirit of the new Constitution approved by a popular referendum on November 22, 1998
- JANUARY 1, 2003CzechiaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished when the Czech Republic...
The death penalty was abolished when the Czech Republic was part of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic
- JANUARY 1, 2003DenmarkDEATH PENALTY
Denmark has been abolitionist since 1978
Denmark has been abolitionist since 1978
- JANUARY 1, 2003CroatiaDEATH PENALTY
Croatia abolished the death penalty while it was still...
Croatia abolished the death penalty while it was still a member of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
- JANUARY 1, 2003AzerbaijanDEATH PENALTY
The last execution took place in 1992
The last execution took place in 1992
- JANUARY 1, 2003AzerbaijanDEATH PENALTY
Azerbaijan abolished the death penalty in February...
Azerbaijan abolished the death penalty in February 1998 for all crimes committed during peacetime
- JANUARY 1, 2003SlovakiaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished when Slovakia was part...
The death penalty was abolished when Slovakia was part of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic
- JANUARY 1, 2003BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty for all crimes was abolished on December...
The death penalty for all crimes was abolished on December 10, 1998
- JANUARY 1, 2003CroatiaDEATH PENALTY
Croatia abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1990
Croatia abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1990