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, 2002ParaguayDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of Paraguay (1992) at Art
The Constitution of Paraguay (1992) at Art
- JANUARY 1, 2002HondurasDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of the Republic of Honduras at Art
The Constitution of the Republic of Honduras at Art
- JANUARY 1, 2002AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
Australia abolished the death penalty for ordinary...
Australia abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1984 and for wartime crimes in 1985
- JANUARY 1, 2002New ZealandDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished for ordinary crimes...
The death penalty was abolished for ordinary crimes in 1961, then fully abolished, and replaced with life imprisonment in 1989
- JANUARY 1, 2002Council of EuropeDEATH PENALTY
The Council of Europe, established in 1949, describes...
The Council of Europe, established in 1949, describes itself as "the guardian of democratic security, founded on human rights, democracy and the rule of law
- JANUARY 1, 2002ArgentinaDEATH PENALTY
Art. 18 of the Constitution provides for "the complete...
Art. 18 of the Constitution provides for "the complete abolition of the death penalty for political motives." A constitutional amendment, passed in 1994, recognizes international treaties signed by Argentina as equivalent to constitutional norms
- JANUARY 1, 2002AngolaDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution approved in 1992 abolished the death...
The Constitution approved in 1992 abolished the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2002Côte d’IvoireDEATH PENALTY
Between July 23 and 24, 2000, 86
Between July 23 and 24, 2000, 86
- JANUARY 1, 2002North DakotaDEATH PENALTY
North Dakota does not have the death penalty
North Dakota does not have the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2002MinnesotaDEATH PENALTY
Minnesota abolished the death penalty in 1911
Minnesota abolished the death penalty in 1911
- JANUARY 1, 2002BermudaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in 2000
The death penalty was abolished in 2000
- JANUARY 1, 2002West VirginiaDEATH PENALTY
West Virginia abolished the death penalty in 1965
West Virginia abolished the death penalty in 1965
- JANUARY 1, 2002MaineDEATH PENALTY
Maine does not have the death penalty, having abolished...
Maine does not have the death penalty, having abolished it in 1887
- JANUARY 1, 2002HawaiiDEATH PENALTY
Hawaii does not have the death penalty, having abolished...
Hawaii does not have the death penalty, having abolished it in 1956 before becoming a state
- JANUARY 1, 2002CanadaDEATH PENALTY
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes...
Canada abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1976 and for military offenses on December 10, 1998
- JANUARY 1, 2002ChileDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished on May 28, 2001
The death penalty was abolished on May 28, 2001
- JANUARY 1, 2002ColombiaDEATH PENALTY
Colombia abolished the death penalty in 1910
Colombia abolished the death penalty in 1910
- JANUARY 1, 2002MassachusettsDEATH PENALTY
Massachusetts does not have the death penalty
Massachusetts does not have the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2002PeruDEATH PENALTY
Peru has been abolitionist for common crimes since...
Peru has been abolitionist for common crimes since 1979, when the last execution was held
- JANUARY 1, 2002SpainDEATH PENALTY
The country has been abolitionist since 1995; the last...
The country has been abolitionist since 1995; the last execution was conducted in 1975 under the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco, who repressed Basque culture and language during his 36 years in power
- JANUARY 1, 2002LiechtensteinDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished for all crimes on January...
The death penalty was abolished for all crimes on January 1, 1989
- JANUARY 1, 2002Solomon IslandsDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished for ordinary crimes in 1966
The death penalty was abolished for ordinary crimes in 1966
- JANUARY 1, 2002NorwayDEATH PENALTY
Abolitionist for common crimes since 1902, Norway has...
Abolitionist for common crimes since 1902, Norway has been fully abolitionist since 1979
- JANUARY 1, 2002SwitzerlandDEATH PENALTY
After abolishing the death penalty for ordinary crimes...
After abolishing the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1942, Switzerland has been fully abolitionist since 1992; the last execution was conducted in 1944
- JANUARY 1, 2002DenmarkDEATH PENALTY
Denmark has been abolitionist since 1978
Denmark has been abolitionist since 1978
- DECEMBER 24, 2001Burkina FasoDEATH PENALTY
The abolition of capital punishment in Burkina Faso,...
The abolition of capital punishment in Burkina Faso, though it is rarely applied, generated a heated debate
- DECEMBER 16, 2001PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
Renowned international, anti-capital punishment advocate...
Renowned international, anti-capital punishment advocate Roger G
- DECEMBER 14, 2001AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
[captured Taliban fighter] David Hicks is unlikely...
[captured Taliban fighter] David Hicks is unlikely ever to be tried for treason
- DECEMBER 10, 2001RussiaDEATH PENALTY
Russia's human rights commissioner called for the death...
Russia's human rights commissioner called for the death penalty to be abolished in accordance with requirements of the Council of Europe, of which Russia is a member
- DECEMBER 10, 2001RussiaDEATH PENALTY
The State Duma (lower house) will consider a bill for...
The State Duma (lower house) will consider a bill for the abolition of capital punishment in Russia in January 2002, legislation committee chairman Pavel Krasheninnikov said