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
- JANUARY 1, 2016Burkina FasoDEATH PENALTY
Burkina Faso provides for the death penalty in the following crimes:
Burkina Faso provides for the death penalty in the following crimes:
- JANUARY 1, 2016MozambiqueDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of the Republic of Mozambique (1990) at Art. 70 states:
The Constitution of the Republic of Mozambique (1990) at Art. 70 states: "1. All citizens shall have the right to life.
- JANUARY 1, 2016RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Rwanda is the first African country in the Great Lakes region to abolish the death penalty
Rwanda is the first African country in the Great Lakes region to abolish the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2016MauritaniaDEATH PENALTY
High treason, premeditated murder and torture are capital crimes.
High treason, premeditated murder and torture are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2016BeninDEATH PENALTY
On July 5, 2012, with the deposit of its instrument of accession...
On July 5, 2012, with the deposit of its instrument of accession...
- JANUARY 1, 2016MalawiDEATH PENALTY
The offences for which capital punishment either can or must be applied are murder...
The offences for which capital punishment either can or must be applied are murder...
- JANUARY 1, 2016MauritiusDEATH PENALTY
Mauritius has been abolitionist since 1995 when the Death Penalty Act...
Mauritius has been abolitionist since 1995 when the Death Penalty Act...
- JANUARY 1, 2016AndorraDEATH PENALTY
Article 8 (3) of Andorra’s Constitution states:
Article 8 (3) of Andorra’s Constitution states: "The death penalty is prohibited."
- JANUARY 1, 2016BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Belgium abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1996.
Belgium abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1996.
- JANUARY 1, 2016TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been fully abolished by a package of constitutional and legislative amendments.
The death penalty has been fully abolished by a package of constitutional and legislative amendments.
- JANUARY 1, 2016AzerbaijanDEATH PENALTY
Parliament voted for abolition on February 10, 1998 following an initiative by President Ilham Aliyev in January 1998.
Parliament voted for abolition on February 10, 1998 following an initiative by President Ilham Aliyev in January 1998.
- JANUARY 1, 2016Bosnia & HerzegovinaDEATH PENALTY
With the ratification on July 29, 2003 of the Protocol No 13...
With the ratification on July 29, 2003 of the Protocol No 13...
- JANUARY 1, 2016BelarusDEATH PENALTY
Article 24 of the constitution reads that
Article 24 of the constitution reads that "the death penalty...
- JANUARY 1, 2016AustriaDEATH PENALTY
The Federal Constitutional Law of the Republic of Austria at Art. 85 states
The Federal Constitutional Law of the Republic of Austria at Art. 85 states "The death penalty is abolished."
- JANUARY 1, 2016BhutanDEATH PENALTY
On March 20, 2004 the King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuk, issued a royal decree (“kasho”) abolishing the death penalty in the kingdom.
On March 20, 2004 the King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuk, issued a royal decree (“kasho”) abolishing the death penalty in the kingdom.
- JANUARY 1, 2016PolandDEATH PENALTY
Poland abolished the death penalty in 1997 and a penal code introduced in 1998 replaced it with life imprisonment.
Poland abolished the death penalty in 1997 and a penal code introduced in 1998 replaced it with life imprisonment.
- JANUARY 1, 2016JordanDEATH PENALTY
The legal system in Jordan is based on Islamic law
The legal system in Jordan is based on Islamic law
- JANUARY 1, 2016CroatiaDEATH PENALTY
Croatia abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1990.
Croatia abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1990.
- JANUARY 1, 2016BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty for all crimes was abolished on December 10, 1998.
The death penalty for all crimes was abolished on December 10, 1998.
- JANUARY 1, 2016ZimbabweDEATH PENALTY
After independence from Britain in 1980, there were nine offences which warranted
After independence from Britain in 1980, there were nine offences which warranted
- JANUARY 1, 2016PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
On June 24, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed a law abolishing the death penalty.
On June 24, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed a law abolishing the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2016MongoliaDEATH PENALTY
On 3 December 2015, Mongolia’s parliament voted in favour of a new Criminal Code
On 3 December 2015, Mongolia’s parliament voted in favour of a new Criminal Code that abolishes the death penalty for all crimes
- JANUARY 1, 2016MicronesiaDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of the Federated States of Micronesia (1980) at Article 4, Section 9, states:
The Constitution of the Federated States of Micronesia (1980) at Article 4, Section 9, states: "capital punishment is prohibited."
- JANUARY 1, 2016IsraelDEATH PENALTY
The country has been abolitionist for ordinary crimes since 1954.
The country has been abolitionist for ordinary crimes since 1954.
- JANUARY 1, 2016KyrgyzstanDEATH 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, 2016Marshall IslandsDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of the Republic of Marshall Islands (1979) under Section 6(1) states
The Constitution of the Republic of Marshall Islands (1979) under Section 6(1) states
- JANUARY 1, 2016NauruDEATH PENALTY
No one has been put to death since independence in 1968.
No one has been put to death since independence in 1968.
- JANUARY 1, 2016KiribatiDEATH 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, 2016FijiDEATH PENALTY
Fiji abolished the death penalty for treason and piracy in February 2002
Fiji abolished the death penalty for treason and piracy in February 2002
- JANUARY 1, 2016TurkmenistanDEATH PENALTY
On December 29, 1999, the People's Council decided to abolish the death sentence in the country.
On December 29, 1999, the People's Council decided to abolish the death sentence in the country.