The United Nations moratorium on the death penalty
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Since 2007 the General Assembly of the United Nations has adopted at regular intervals a resolution calling on states for a moratorium on executions, with a view to abolishing the death penalty. The resolution is not binding, but every vote measures how many states are willing to support it, and the supporters have grown over time.
Hands Off Cain works on parliaments and governments so that this number grows and so that the vote is followed by decisions at home. This page collects the news on the votes, the co-sponsorships and the positions of individual countries.
Latest news
- JANUARY 1, 2017North CarolinaDEATH PENALTY
The method of execution is injection.
The method of execution is injection.
- JANUARY 1, 2017IllinoisDEATH PENALTY
On March 9, 2011, Gov. Pat Quinn abolished the death penalty
On March 9, 2011, Gov. Pat Quinn abolished the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2017TogoDEATH PENALTY
On June 23, 2009, Togo's parliament voted unanimously to abolish the death penalty.
On June 23, 2009, Togo's parliament voted unanimously to abolish the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2017Palestinian TerritoriesDEATH PENALTY
On 29 November 2012, the General Assembly voted to grant
On 29 November 2012, the General Assembly voted to grant
- JANUARY 1, 2017LatviaDEATH PENALTY
On 26 January 2012, Latvia ratified Protocol No. 13 to the Convention
On 26 January 2012, Latvia ratified Protocol No. 13 to the Convention
- JANUARY 1, 2017IrelandDEATH PENALTY
Ireland abolished the death penalty in 1990.
Ireland abolished the death penalty in 1990.
- JANUARY 1, 2017KiribatiDEATH PENALTY
There have been no executions since independence on July 12, 1979.
There have been no executions since independence on July 12, 1979.
- JANUARY 1, 2017JordanDEATH PENALTY
The legal system in Jordan is based on Islamic law
The legal system in Jordan is based on Islamic law
- JANUARY 1, 2017KyrgyzstanDEATH PENALTY
On June 27, 2007 Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev...
On June 27, 2007 Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev signed legislation amending Kyrgyzstan's criminal codes and abolishing the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2017ItalyDEATH PENALTY
Italy became totally abolitionist in 1994, when the death penalty was abolished from the Military Codes.
Italy became totally abolitionist in 1994, when the death penalty was abolished from the Military Codes.
- JANUARY 1, 2017KuwaitDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is provided for by laws based on the Sharia.
The death penalty is provided for by laws based on the Sharia.
- JANUARY 1, 2017MadagascarDEATH PENALTY
The last executions in Madagascar were carried out under French colonial rule in 1958.
The last executions in Madagascar were carried out under French colonial rule in 1958.
- JANUARY 1, 2017LiberiaDEATH PENALTY
Death penalty may be applied
Death penalty may be applied despite accession to the Second Optional Protocol
- JANUARY 1, 2017LiechtensteinDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished for all crimes in 1987.
The death penalty was abolished for all crimes in 1987.
- JANUARY 1, 2017LibyaDEATH PENALTY
Under the penal code in force at the time of Gaddafi...
Under the penal code in force at the time of Gaddafi...
- JANUARY 1, 2017AlgeriaDEATH PENALTY
Algeria’s laws prescribe the death penalty for a range of crimes including ordinary crimes.
Algeria’s laws prescribe the death penalty for a range of crimes including ordinary crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2017LuxembourgDEATH PENALTY
Luxembourg has been completely abolitionist since 1979.
Luxembourg has been completely abolitionist since 1979.
- JANUARY 1, 2017AfghanistanDEATH PENALTY
The 2004 Afghan Constitution, in article 23 asserts the right to life
The 2004 Afghan Constitution, in article 23 asserts the right to life
- JANUARY 1, 2017LithuaniaDEATH PENALTY
Lithuania abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1998...
Lithuania abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1998...
- JANUARY 1, 2017LesothoDEATH PENALTY
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2017AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was formally abolished in Australia in 1985.
The death penalty was formally abolished in Australia in 1985.
- JANUARY 1, 2017Antigua & BarbudaDEATH PENALTY
Murder is a capital crime.
Murder is a capital crime.
- DECEMBER 19, 2016United NationsDEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY: UNITED NATIONS CONFIRM THE REQUEST OF A UNIVERSAL MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS
The General Assembly of the United Nations confirmed the demand for an end to the death penalty by the vote of a new resolution calling on states to establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the practice. This is the sixth pro-morator
- DECEMBER 19, 2016IranDEATH PENALTY
UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY REBUKES IRAN FOR HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD
Today the international community firmly denounced a wide range of human rights violations in Iran.
- NOVEMBER 21, 2016SingaporeDEATH PENALTY
ICJ: SINGAPORE MUST BE TRANSPARENT IN IMPLEMENTATION OF EXECUTIONS
The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) condemned Singapore’s execution of two people on 18 November.
- NOVEMBER 18, 2016DEATH PENALTY
SERGIO D'ELIA ON RADIO RADICALE: THE THIRD COMMITTEE OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS APPROVED THE RESOLUTION FOR MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY
“We can say that there are lights and shadows in this first pass in the Third Committee on Human Rights. Let’s start from the not exactly positive aspects: it is reflected in this vote the tendency, almost worldwide, of a return to national sovereignty.
- NOVEMBER 17, 2016KenyaDEATH PENALTY
KENYA URGED TO SET PACE FOR REGION BY ABOLISHING DEATH PENALTY
Kenya has been asked to consider abolishing the death penalty since it is not compatible with the
- NOVEMBER 12, 2016ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ENDED IN SWAZILAND THE AFRICAN MISSION OF HANDS OFF CAIN
With two days of meetings in the Kingdom of Swaziland, it ended the mission of Hands Off Cain in four African countries in view of the vote on the Resolution for the universal moratorium on executions at the General Assembly of the United Nations.
- NOVEMBER 9, 2016DEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY: THE MISSION OF HOC IN AFRICA CONTINUES
After a series of meetings in Kenya and Zambia, the mission of Hands Off Cain in Africa in view of the resolution for a moratorium on executions at the United Nations General Assembly is successfully continuing in Malawi.
NOVEMBER 3, 2016ZimbabweDEATH PENALTYZIMBABWE: 10 DEATH ROW INMATES FREED
Zimbabwe last week pardoned 10 inmates who were on the death row after they requested for Presidential clemency while the remaining 80 will also survive the gallows if Government resolves to completely abolish capital punishment for all crimes, Vice Presi