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
MAY 28, 2015PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: 9 DEATH ROW CONVICTS EXECUTED IN VARIOUS JAILS OF THE COUNTRY
Nine more death row prisoners were hanged in seven jails of Pakistan between May 27 and 28.
- MAY 16, 2015DEATH PENALTY
HANDS OFF CAIN: DEATH SENTENCE OF BOSTON BOMBER IS SYMBOLIC BECAUSE A DE FACTO MORATORIUM IS IN FORCE
About the news of the death sentence for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, for his role in the 2013 bombing at the
MAY 15, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA: BOSTON MARATHON BOMBER SENTENCED TO DEATH, A PURELY SYMBOLIC JUDGEMENT IN A DE FACTO MORATORIUM REGIME
Dzhohkar Tsarnaev was sentenced to death by a federal jury for helping carry out the 2013 attack that killed three people and wounded 264 others in the crowds at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. But his execution may not happen for decades – if eve
APRIL 29, 2015Governo Federale degli Stati UnitiDEATH PENALTYUSA: JUSTICE DEPARTMENT CONFIRMS MORATORIUM ON LETHAL INJECTIONS AFTER REPORTS OF PAINFUL DEATHS
the US Department of Justice confirmed that federal executions have been halted until a review of the federal protocol used by the Bureau of Prisons was completed.
- APRIL 24, 2015SingaporeDEATH PENALTY
EU URGES SINGAPORE TO STOP EXECUTIONS
The EU called on the Singaporean authorities to stop all pending executions and to reinstate its earlier
- APRIL 24, 2015GambiaDEATH PENALTY
At its 56th ordinary session, the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) put the
At its 56th ordinary session, the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) put the
- APRIL 14, 2015ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ORLANDO IN DOHA: DEATH PENALTY ABOLITION IS PRIORITY GOAL
"The abolition of the death penalty is a priority in view of the definition of the post-2015 development agenda". The Minister of Justice of Italy, Andrea Orlando, speaking in Doha at the panel discussion on Death, Drugs and Terrorism during the 13th Uni
- APRIL 12, 2015RussiaDEATH PENALTY
According to a Public Opinion Foundation’s survey held on 11-12 April 2015 among 1,500 respondents in
According to a Public Opinion Foundation’s survey held on 11-12 April 2015 among 1,500 respondents in
- MARCH 25, 2015PennsylvaniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Pennsylvania. Majority Prefer Life Sentences, Support Moratorium
USA - Pennsylvania. Majority Prefer Life Sentences, Support Moratorium
MARCH 18, 2015PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: NINE MORE CONVICTS HANGED IN PUNJAB JAILS
nine more murder convicts were hanged in six prisons of Pakistan, a day after 12 convicts were sent to gallows, the largest number of people executed on the same day since an unofficial moratorium on capital punishment was lifted in December.
MARCH 13, 2015PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: TWO DEATH ROW PRISONERS HANGED IN FAISALABAD JAIL
Prison authorities in Faisalabad hanged two death row prisoners convicted of murder and rape, bringing to 27 the number of executions in Pakistan since it resumed capital punishment in December.
MARCH 12, 2015PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: FIRST PERSON EXECUTED AFTER MORATORIUM ON THE DEATH PENALTY COMPLETELY ENDED
A man convicted of a triple murder – Mohammad Siddique – was hanged at the District Jail in the city of Toba Tek Singh in the Pakistani province of Punjab.
MARCH 7, 2015PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LIFTS MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY OF ALL CONVICTS
the federal government has formally lifted the moratorium on death penalty of all the condemned prisoners.
- MARCH 3, 2015PennsylvaniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court Takes Up Gov. Wolf's Death Penalty Moratorium
USA - Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court Takes Up Gov. Wolf's Death Penalty Moratorium
MARCH 3, 2015SurinameDEATH PENALTYSURINAME: DEATH PENALTY ABOLISHED
the National Assembly of Suriname abolished the death penalty, in the framework
- FEBRUARY 20, 2015OregonDEATH PENALTY
USA - Oregon. New governor will continue death penalty moratorium
USA - Oregon. New governor will continue death penalty moratorium
FEBRUARY 17, 2015DEATH PENALTYUSA: HOLDER FAVORS MORATORIUM ON LETHAL INJECTION
Attorney General Eric Holder said that a national moratorium on lethal injection "would be appropriate'' until the Supreme Court completes its latest review of the execution process as part of a case initially brought by Oklahoma death row inmates.
- FEBRUARY 17, 2015United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Attorney General Eric Holder called today for a moratorium on the death penalty
USA - Attorney General Eric Holder called today for a moratorium on the death penalty
FEBRUARY 13, 2015PennsylvaniaDEATH PENALTYUSA: PENNSYLVANIA SUSPENDS THE DEATH PENALTY
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced he had established a moratorium on executions until he receives and reviews a report on capital punishment in the state.
- FEBRUARY 13, 2015DEATH PENALTY
USA: HANDS OFF CAIN WELCOMES THE MORATORIUM IN PENNSYLVANIA
the newly elected Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf announced today that he has suspended the death
JANUARY 17, 2015PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: ANOTHER MILITANT HANGED, 20TH EXECUTION SINCE MORATORIUM LIFTED
Pakistan hanged a militant of a banned anti-Shiite outfit, bringing the number of executions in the country
JANUARY 13, 2015PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: SEVEN CONVICTS HANGED IN FOUR JAILS
Pakistan hanged seven convicted militants, officials said, raising to 16 the number of executions carried out since it lifted a six-year moratorium on the death penalty in December.
- JANUARY 9, 2015PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN: ANOTHER CONVICTED TERRORIST HANGED IN RAWALPINDI
Another convicted of attempting to assassinate former President Pervez Musharraf in December 2003, was
- JANUARY 1, 2015CameroonDEATH PENALTY
Cameroon applies the death penalty for treason.
Cameroon applies the death penalty for treason.
- JANUARY 1, 2015UgandaDEATH PENALTY
Uganda’s penal code provides for 15 capital offences
Uganda’s penal code provides for 15 capital offences
- JANUARY 1, 2015Burkina 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, 2015ZimbabweDEATH 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, 2015ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
The Zambian penal code, section 43, foresees that the death penalty...
The Zambian penal code, section 43, foresees that the death penalty...
- JANUARY 1, 2015TanzaniaDEATH PENALTY
Tanzania still retains the death penalty as one of punishments under...
Tanzania still retains the death penalty as one of punishments under...
- JANUARY 1, 2015TunisiaDEATH PENALTY
In Tunisian law the death penalty is issued for 21 separate offenses
In Tunisian law the death penalty is issued for 21 separate offenses