The United Nations moratorium on the death penalty
Archive theme
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
- NOVEMBER 3, 2016DEATH PENALTY
HANDS OFF CAIN MISSION BEGINS IN AFRICA IN SUPPORT OF MORATORIUM
Today begins a mission of Hands Off Cain in four African countries, Kenya, Zambia; Malawi and Swaziland with the aim of increasing support for the Resolution for the universal moratorium on capital executions on vote again at the General Assembly of the U
- SEPTEMBER 21, 2016United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - As of today, 4 states have gubernatorial moratoriums in place.
USA - As of today, 4 states have gubernatorial moratoriums in place.
- AUGUST 9, 2016MaldivesDEATH PENALTY
UN RIGHTS CHIEF URGES MALDIVES NOT TO RESUME EXECUTIONS
The United Nations’ human rights chief is urging the Maldives to stick to a decades-long moratorium on
- AUGUST 3, 2016DEATH PENALTY
HANDS OFF CAIN’S 2016 REPORT
The worldwide trend towards abolition, underway for more than fifteen years, was again confirmed in 2015 and the first six months of 2016.
JUNE 22, 2016Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS ON LEADERS TO HAVE COURAGE TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY
Delivering the opening address at the first plenary session of Sixth World Congress Against the Death
- JUNE 21, 2016DEATH PENALTY
OSLO: IT STARTED TODAY THE 6TH WORLD CONGRESS AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY
It started today the 6th World Congress Against the Death Penalty in Oslo, Norway.
- APRIL 6, 2016DEATH PENALTY
APPEAL TO THE PRIME MINISTER, MATTEO RENZI, VISITING THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
In the recent visit in Italy of the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Hassan Rouhani, and his meetings with top representatives of the Italian Republic, it has clearly emerged the formal desire to establish more regular political and diplomatic r
- MARCH 3, 2016New HampshireDEATH PENALTY
USA - New Hampshire. The Senate defeated a proposal in a 12-12 tie to repeal the state’s death penalty
USA - New Hampshire. The Senate defeated a proposal in a 12-12 tie to repeal the state’s death penalty
JANUARY 13, 2016ZambiaDEATH PENALTYZAMBIA: OUTLAW DEATH PENALTY, URGES PRISON CHIEF
the Zambia Prisons Services submitted before the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs that the law on
JANUARY 3, 2016DEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: THE UNITED NATIONS DEPLORED THE MASS EXECUTION OF 47 PEOPLE
The United Nations deplored the mass execution of 47 people by Saudi Arabia, calling on the Riyadh
- JANUARY 1, 2016PalauDEATH PENALTY
Palau abolished the death penalty in 1994.
Palau abolished the death penalty in 1994.
- JANUARY 1, 2016SamoaDEATH PENALTY
Samoa commenced formal measures to abolish the death penalty on January 16, 2004
Samoa commenced formal measures to abolish the death penalty on January 16, 2004
- JANUARY 1, 2016Solomon IslandsDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished for all crimes in 1966.
The death penalty was abolished for all crimes in 1966.
- JANUARY 1, 2016UzbekistanDEATH PENALTY
Uzbekistan abolished the death penalty on January 1, 2008.
Uzbekistan abolished the death penalty on January 1, 2008.
- JANUARY 1, 2016TuvaluDEATH PENALTY
No execution has been carried out since independence was declared in 1978.
No execution has been carried out since independence was declared in 1978.
- JANUARY 1, 2016EcuadorDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador at Art. 23 states:
The Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador at Art. 23 states:
- JANUARY 1, 2016ColombiaDEATH PENALTY
Colombia abolished the death penalty in 1910.
Colombia abolished the death penalty in 1910.
- JANUARY 1, 2016Costa RicaDEATH PENALTY
Costa Rica has been abolitionist since 1887.
Costa Rica has been abolitionist since 1887.
- JANUARY 1, 2016GuatemalaDEATH 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, 2016HaitiDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of the Republic of Haiti (1987) at Art. 20 states:
The Constitution of the Republic of Haiti (1987) at Art. 20 states:
- JANUARY 1, 2016IraqDEATH PENALTY
On April 9, 2003 Saddam Hussein’s Baathist regime was overthrown by a US-led military coalition.
On April 9, 2003 Saddam Hussein’s Baathist regime was overthrown by a US-led military coalition.
- JANUARY 1, 2016HondurasDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of the Republic of Honduras at Art. 66 states:
The Constitution of the Republic of Honduras at Art. 66 states: "The death penalty is prohibited."
- JANUARY 1, 2016El SalvadorDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in El Salvador in 1983 for all crimes
The death penalty was abolished in El Salvador in 1983 for all crimes
- JANUARY 1, 2016PeruDEATH PENALTY
Peru has been abolitionist for common crimes since 1979, when the last execution was held.
Peru has been abolitionist for common crimes since 1979, when the last execution was held.
- JANUARY 1, 2016UruguayDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay (1967) at Art. 26 states: ‘the death penalty shall not be applied to anyone.’
The Constitution of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay (1967) at Art. 26 states: ‘the death penalty shall not be applied to anyone.’
- JANUARY 1, 2016VenezuelaDEATH PENALTY
In 1863 Venezuela formally abolished the death penalty, making it the first modern state to do so.
In 1863 Venezuela formally abolished the death penalty, making it the first modern state to do so.
- JANUARY 1, 2016Timor-LesteDEATH PENALTY
East Timor became the first new sovereign state of the 21st century on the night between May 19 and 20, 2002.
East Timor became the first new sovereign state of the 21st century on the night between May 19 and 20, 2002.
- JANUARY 1, 2016ParaguayDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of Paraguay (1992) at Art. 4,
The Constitution of Paraguay (1992) at Art. 4, "The Right to life," states in part: "The death penalty is abolished."
- JANUARY 1, 2016NicaraguaDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of the Republic of Nicaragua (1987) at Art. 23 states:
The Constitution of the Republic of Nicaragua (1987) at Art. 23 states: "The right to life is inviolable
- JANUARY 1, 2016PanamaDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of the Republic of Panama (1972) at Art. 3 states:
The Constitution of the Republic of Panama (1972) at Art. 3 states: "There is no death penalty."