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
DECEMBER 21, 2014JordanDEATH PENALTYJORDAN: 11 EXECUTED AFTER 8-YEAR DEATH PENALTY MORATORIUM
Eight years after Jordan suspended its death penalty, eleven death-row inmates convicted in different murder cases were executed by hanging, the Interior Ministry announced.
DECEMBER 21, 2014PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: FOUR MORE SENT TO THE GALLOWS AFTER SCHOOL ATTACK
Pakistan executed four more militants after ending a six-year moratorium on the death penalty following a Taliban school attack that killed 149 people, officials said.
DECEMBER 19, 2014PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: TWO TERRORISTS EXECUTED AFTER THE GOVERNMENT ENDED A MORATORIUM ON CAPITAL
two convicted terrorists were hanged in Pakistan just two days after the Nawaz Sharif government ended a
- DECEMBER 18, 2014DEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY: UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY’S VOTE PRO-MORATORIUM A FURTHER STEP TOWARDS ABOLITION
the General Assembly of the United Nations advanced again its call to end the use of the death penalty with the passage of a new Resolution calling on States to establish a moratorium on executions, with a view to abolishing the practice. It was the fifth
- DECEMBER 18, 2014PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN PREPARES TO EXECUTE 55 DEATH ROW INMATES
Pakistan is preparing to execute 55 inmates on death row after the country ended the moratorium on the
- DECEMBER 18, 2014ItalyDEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY: COMMENTS ON THE UN VOTE PRO-MORATORIUM
the General Assembly of the United Nations advanced again its call to end the use of the death
- DECEMBER 18, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) approved a Resolution expressing deep concern about the
United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) approved a Resolution expressing deep concern about the
DECEMBER 18, 2014PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: PRESIDENT REJECTS MERCY APPEAL OF 17 DEATH PENALTY CONVICTS
President Mamnoon Hussain rejected appeal to mercy of 17 criminals convicted for death penalty.
DECEMBER 17, 2014PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: PRIME MINISTER LIFTS MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY AFTER TALIBAN ATTACK
the Pakistani Prime Minister lifted the moratorium on the death penalty in terrorism-related cases, a day
- DECEMBER 15, 2014ItalyDEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY: THE NOBEL PEACE LAUREATES STAND FOR THE UN MORATORIUM
it was held yesterday in Rome a meeting with Nobel Peace Laureates, promoted by Hands Off Cain and the Radical Party, in support of the fifth UN Resolution for the universal moratorium on executions, on which the General Assembly is called to vote on the
- NOVEMBER 21, 2014United NationsDEATH PENALTY
UNITED NATIONS: GENERAL ASSEMBLY’S VOTE PRO-MORATORIUM A FURTHER STEP TOWARDS ABOLITION
The Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly approved the fifth resolution for the Universal moratorium on executions with a record number of 114 votes in favour and the lowest of the votes against, 36, while 34 abstained and 9 were absent a
- NOVEMBER 21, 2014ItalyDEATH PENALTY
RADICAL PARTY DELEGATION LED BY MARCO PANNELLA MEETS THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE IN NIGER ON THE UN PRO-MORATORIUM RESOLUTION AND ON THE RIGHT TO KNOW
The delegation of the Radical Party and Hands Off Cain led by Marco Pannella and Sergio D'Elia that comprises Marco Perduca, Matteo Angioli, Marco Maria Freddi and Stefano Marrella, on a mission in Niger to promote support on a resolution in favor of a Un
- NOVEMBER 21, 2014ItalyDEATH PENALTY
DELEGATION OF RADICALS IN NIGER VISITS THE PRISONS OF NIAMEY AND KOLLO
The delegation of the Radical Party and Hands Off Cain that was in Niger for institutional meetings
- NOVEMBER 20, 2014ItalyDEATH PENALTY
MISSION OF RADICALS IN NIGER, THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE MORATORIUM RESOLUTION AT THE UNAND ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY IN THE COUNTRY
The delegation of Hands Off Cain and the Nonviolent Radical Party Transnational and Transparty was received today by the Minister of Justice and government spokesman, Marou Amadou.
- NOVEMBER 18, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
UNITED NATIONS: HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE DEMANDS THAT IRAN STOP EXECUTIONS
The U.N. General Assembly human rights committee approved a resolution expressing deep concern about
- NOVEMBER 17, 2014ComorosDEATH PENALTY
COMOROS: SECOND LEG OF THE HANDS OFF CAIN AND THE NONVIOLENT RADICAL PARTY IN AFRICA FOR THE UN MORATORIUM ON THE DEATH PENALTY
After the visit in Zimbabwe, the mission of Hands Off Cain and the Nonviolent Radical Party, Transnational and Transparty is now in the Comoros. Objective of the mission s to promote the UN Resolution on the Universal Moratorium of the Death Penalty, whic
NOVEMBER 14, 2014ItalyDEATH PENALTYZIMBABWE: RADICAL PARTY DELEGATION MEETS MINISTER OF JUSTICE ON THE VOTE FOR THE UN MORATORIUM
The second day of the Mission of Hands Off Cain and the Nonviolent Radical Party, Transnational and Transparty in Zimbabwe started with a meeting with the Hon. Emmerson Mnangagwa Minister of Justice and his staff to discuss the death penalty at the natio
NOVEMBER 13, 2014ItalyDEATH PENALTYZIMBABWE: HANDS OFF CAIN MEETS THE VICE-MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO URGE A VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE UN RESOLUTION ON THE MORATORIUM
The delegation of the Hands Off Cain and the Nonviolent Radical Party, Transnational and Transparty, composed of Sergio D’Elia, Marco Perduca and Marco Maria Freddi, accompanied by H.E. Enrico De Agostini Ambassador of Italy and Ms. Paula Vazquez, of the
- OCTOBER 28, 2014PakistanDEATH PENALTY
PAKISTAN: EU LINKS MARKET ACCESS WITH ABOLISHING OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
The European Union has demanded Pakistan to abolish the death penalty by retaining a moratorium on
OCTOBER 19, 2014IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: DEATH PENALTY FUELS VIOLENCE IN THE COUNTRY, SAYS U.N. REPORT
the United Nations said Iraq should stop its widespread use of the death penalty, which is unjust, flawed
- OCTOBER 10, 2014DEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY: HANDS OFF CAIN, THE WORLD DAY AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY FOR AFRICA
Hands Off Cain devotes the World Day against the Death Penalty to Africa.
OCTOBER 8, 2014MoroccoDEATH PENALTYMOROCCO: ABOLITIONISTS SLAM 'INHUMANE' TREATMENT ON DEATH ROW
Rights activists accused Moroccan authorities of keeping more than 100 prisoners awaiting execution in
OCTOBER 3, 2014TanzaniaDEATH PENALTYTANZANIA: DISSATISFACTION OVER THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTION RETAINING PROVISIONS SUPPORTING DEATH PENALTY
the Constituent Assembly (CA) endorsed the final draft of the Proposed Constitution, the country’s second
- SEPTEMBER 25, 2014ItalyDEATH PENALTY
RENZI AT THE UNITED NATIONS: DO NOT ADD BARBARITY TO BARBARITY
Mr Matteo Renzi, Head of the Italian Government, speaking before the General Assembly, recalled the
SEPTEMBER 16, 2014PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: COURT STAYS HANGING OF A MURDERER SET TO BE EXECUTED ON 18 SEPTEMBER
A Pakistani court postponed for almost a month the hanging of a murderer in what would have been the
- SEPTEMBER 10, 2014Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
Saudi authorities beheaded a national for murder, the interior ministry said, a day after a U.N. appeal for an
Saudi authorities beheaded a national for murder, the interior ministry said, a day after a U.N. appeal for an
SEPTEMBER 10, 2014DEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA: THREE PEOPLE BEHEADED IN KINGDOM'S LATEST EXECUTIONS
Saudi authorities beheaded three prisoners in the latest two days.
- SEPTEMBER 9, 2014ChadDEATH PENALTY
CHAD: TOWARDS ABOLISHING THE DEATH PENALTY
The Chadian government adopted on September 5 a penal code aimed at abolishing the death penalty, Minister of Communication and government spokesman Hassan Sylla Bakari announced after an inter-ministerial meeting held in N’Djamena.
- AUGUST 8, 2014OhioDEATH PENALTY
USA: OHIO’S DEATH-PENALTY MORATORIUM EXTENDED UNTIL NEXT JANUARY
a federal judge has extended a temporary moratorium on executions in Ohio until 15 January 2015 to allow more time for the state to implement a new lethal-injection procedure.
- JULY 30, 2014United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Death Penalty on Hold in Most of the Country
USA - Death Penalty on Hold in Most of the Country