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
SEPTEMBER 2, 2022United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Death Row USA Spring 2022
2,414 people on US death row, but "only" 1385 at "real risk of execution"
- JUNE 7, 2022MaldivesDEATH PENALTY
MALDIVES TO CONTINUE MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY: HOME MINISTER
Home Minister Imran Abdulla has said that the Maldives still has a policy of continuing the moratorium on implementation the death penalty.
- MAY 24, 2022DEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY 2021: STATE-SANCTIONED KILLINGS RISE AS EXECUTIONS SPIKE IN IRAN AND SAUDI ARABIA
2021 saw a worrying rise in executions and death sentences as some of the world’s most prolific executioners returned to business as usual and courts were unshackled from Covid-19 restrictions, Amnesty International said on 24 May 2022 in its annual revie
- MAY 16, 2022TaiwanDEATH PENALTY
HUMAN RIGHTS EXPERTS URGE TAIWAN TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY
An international panel of human rights experts on 13 May 2022 called on Taiwan to end the "cruel and degrading" practice of capital punishment.
- MARCH 14, 2022United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - The latest edition of "Death Row USA" Drusa has been published
State Death Rows Drop Below 2,400 For First Time Since 1990
- MARCH 7, 2022RussiaDEATH PENALTY
RUSSIAN MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY NOT CONNECTED TO RUSSIA'S MEMBERSHIP IN COUNCIL OF EUROPE, IT HAS NO DEFINITE TERM - FEDERATION COUNCIL COMMITTEE HEAD
The moratorium on the death penalty in Russia has no definite term and is not connected to Russia's membership in the Council of Europe, Andrei Klishas, the head of the Federation Council Constitutional Legislation and State-Building Committee, said on 2
FEBRUARY 9, 2022United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA -Published "Death Row USA" updated to October 1, 2021
2,455 people on death row
JANUARY 10, 2022RussiaDEATH PENALTYRUSSIA: CHAIR OF COSTITUTIONAL COURT DISCUSSES RETURN OF DEATH PENALTY
The moratorium on capital punishment imposed in Russia in 1997 after the country joined the Council of Europe could be lifted in the future, the chairman of the country’s Constitutional Court said on 28 December 2021.
- DECEMBER 29, 2021United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Published the latest edition of "Death Row USA" updated to July 1, 2021
Fewest Death-Sentenced Prisoners in Three Decades
NOVEMBER 17, 2021IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN -UN Third Committee resolution censures serious rights abuses in Iran
OCTOBER 28, 2021United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Published the latest edition of Death Row Usa
Updated to April 1, 2021
OCTOBER 28, 2021OklahomaDEATH PENALTYUSA - Oklahoma. John Grant executed
He convulsed and vomited during execution
SEPTEMBER 10, 2021OhioDEATH PENALTYUSA - Ohio. De facto moratorium confirmed
Governor DeWine Reschedules Four More Executions
SEPTEMBER 1, 2021United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Published the latest edition of "Death Row USA" updated to January 1, 2021
2,528 people on death rows
JULY 1, 2021United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Attorney General Merrick Garland suspends federal executions
"Not enough"
- DECEMBER 23, 2020United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Published the latest edition of "Death Row USA", updated to 1 October 2020
2,553 death row prisoners.
- DECEMBER 22, 2020DEATH PENALTY
APPEAL OF REPRIEVE, IHR AND HOC TO THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT NOT TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE DEATH PENALTY IN IRAN
DECEMBER 20, 2020LebanonDEATH PENALTYUN: FOR THE FIRST TIME LEBANON VOTED FOR A RESOLUTION AGAINST DEATH PENALTY
According to Lebanon’s UN representative Amal Mudallali, Lebanon for the first time in history has voted against the death penalty in a United Nations session.
- DECEMBER 16, 2020ItalyDEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY. HANDS OFF CAIN WELCOMES THE APPROVAL BY THE UNGA OF A RESOLUTION FOR A UNIVERSAL MORATORIUM
Hands Off Cain, the association which has promoted since 1993 and brought to success in 2007 the campaign for the approval by the United Nations General Assembly of a resolution for a universal moratorium on capital punishment, welcomes the approval of ei
- NOVEMBER 24, 2020DEATH PENALTY
UNITED NATIONS: 3RD COMMITTEE CONDEMNS IRAN ON HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION
The Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) on 18 November 2020 sent seven draft resolutions to the General Assembly, five of which were focused on country-specific situations and subject to heated debate.
- NOVEMBER 19, 2020South KoreaDEATH PENALTY
SOUTH KOREA VOTES FOR UN RESOLUTION ON DEATH PENALTY MORATORIUM FOR 1ST TIME
South Korea's Justice Ministry said on 18 November 2020 that the country has voted in favor of a UN resolution calling for the suspension of the death penalty.
- NOVEMBER 18, 2020United NationsDEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY: MAJORITY OF STATES CONTINUE TO SUPPORT UN CALL FOR MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS AT COMMITTEE VOTE
An overwhelming majority of states continued to support a UN call to halt executions on 17 November 2020, when the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) considered a draft resolution on a moratorium on the use of the death penalty.
- NOVEMBER 18, 2020IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN - United Nations 3rd Committee condemns Iran
IRAN - United Nations 3rd Committee condemns Iran
NOVEMBER 9, 2020DEATH PENALTYUSA - What Biden’s Win Means for Criminal Justice and the Death Penalty
USA - What Biden’s Win Means for Criminal Justice and the Death Penalty
OCTOBER 26, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - United Nations Third Committee Interactive Dialogue on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran
IRAN - United Nations Third Committee Interactive Dialogue on the Situation of Human Rights in Iran
- OCTOBER 15, 2020United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Published the latest edition of "Death Row USA" updated to 1 July 2020.
USA - Published the latest edition of "Death Row USA" updated to 1 July 2020.
- OCTOBER 11, 2020Council of EuropeDEATH PENALTY
WORLD DAY AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY: JOINT DECLARATION BY EU HIGH REPRESENTATIVE AND COUNCIL OF EUROPE SECRETARY GENERAL
Today (10 October 2020) on the World and European Day Against the Death Penalty the European Union and the Council of Europe reaffirm their opposition to the use of capital punishment in all circumstances and call for the universal abolition of the death
- SEPTEMBER 24, 2020KazakhstanDEATH PENALTY
KAZAKHSTAN ABOLISHES DEATH PENALTY
Kazakhstan has joined the international document to abolish the death penalty, Trend News Agency reported on 24 September 2020 with reference to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
AUGUST 10, 2020United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Death Row USA (DRUSA) up to April 1, 2020
USA - Death Row USA (DRUSA) up to April 1, 2020
- JULY 14, 2020DEATH BY PUNISHMENT
DEATH PENALTY: HANDS OFF CAIN, TRUMP RETURNS AMERICA TO THE PAST
The association Hands Off Cain - Spes contra spem thus commented on the news of the resumption of federal executions in America.