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
- JULY 18, 2014DEATH PENALTY
HANDS OFF CAIN REPORT: 'POSITIVE EVOLUTION TOWARDS ABOLITION'
"The worldwide trend towards abolition of the death penalty in place in the world for over 15 years, was confirmed in 2013 and the first six months of 2014. In fact 161 countries, either by law or in practice, have decided to abolish, and only 37 countrie
- JULY 16, 2014DEATH PENALTY
PRESENTATION OF HANDS OFF CAIN’S 2014 REPORT ‘THE DEATH PENALTY WORLDWIDE’ AND AWARD PRESENTATION FOR ‘THE ABOLITIONIST OF THE YEAR 2014’
The presentation will be held on 18 July 2014, 11:45 A.M., in Rome, Via di Torre Argentina 76.
- JULY 4, 2014BeninDEATH PENALTY
BENIN: PAN-AFRICAN CONFERENCE ON ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY CONCLUDES
It ended today, the Continental Conference on the Abolition of the death penalty in Africa convened in Cotonou, the capital of Benin, by the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights with the ministerial meeting chaired by Foreign Minister Bako-Arif
- JULY 3, 2014BeninDEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY: SECOND DAY OF THE PAN-AFRICAN CONFERENCE
The Pan-African Conference on the Death Penalty went through its second day. The session began with the reports of the five thematic commissions held the previous day concerning the role of parliamentarians, civil society and media, professional groups,
- JULY 2, 2014United NationsDEATH PENALTY
'DEATH PENALTY HAS NO PLACE IN 21ST CENTURY,' DECLARES UN CHIEF
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon declared that the death penalty has no place in the 21st
- JULY 2, 2014BeninDEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY: SETS OUT THE AFRICAN CONFERENCE IN BENIN
Today were opened in Cotonou, capital of Benin, the three days works of the Continental Conference on the Abolition of the death penalty in Africa convened by the local government with the Commission on Human Rights and Peoples of the African Union in col
- JULY 1, 2014ItalyDEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY: FIRST TASK FORCE MEETING AT FARNESINA. MORATORIUM CAMPAIGN TO BE AN EU PRESIDENCY PRIORITY, SAYS MOGHERINI
Italy is taking forward the battle for a universal moratorium on the death penalty. Today at the Farnesina, Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini chaired the first meeting of the task force that will coordinate Italy’s action in the run-up to the United Nat
MAY 23, 2014IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: LAW COMMISSION CALLS FOR REVIEW OF DEATH PENALTY
the Law Commission of India, which works as an advisory body to the Ministry of Law and Justice, has
- MAY 19, 2014SurinameDEATH PENALTY
SURINAME: MINISTER OF JUSTICE, DEATH PENALTY TO BE REVOKED
Justice and Police Minister Edward Belfort announced that Suriname will raise its maximum jail sentence to
- MAY 5, 2014Equatorial GuineaDEATH PENALTY
Equatorial Guinea was reviewed under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). With regard to abolishing the
Equatorial Guinea was reviewed under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). With regard to abolishing the
- MAY 2, 2014United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - UN urges death penalty moratorium in US.
USA - UN urges death penalty moratorium in US.
APRIL 30, 2014MaldivesDEATH PENALTYMALDIVE: UN RIGHTS OFFICE CONDEMNS DEATH PENALTY REVIVAL
the UN Human Rights Office in Geneva voiced concern over moves to revive the death penalty in the
APRIL 11, 2014BruneiDEATH PENALTYBRUNEI: UNITED NATIONS VOICED DEEP CONCERN ABOUT THE NEW SHARIA PENAL CODE
the United Nations human rights office voiced deep concern about the revised penal code in Brunei
APRIL 3, 2014SomaliaDEATH PENALTYSOMALIA: UN RIGHTS OFFICE CALLS FOR MORATORIUM AFTER ‘HASTY’ EXECUTION OF ALLEGED MURDERER
a man was executed in the Somali town of Kismayo after he was accused of killing an elder on 24 March.
- MARCH 25, 2014SomaliaDEATH PENALTY
the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights received with shock and deep sadness news that
the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights received with shock and deep sadness news that
- FEBRUARY 13, 2014Equatorial GuineaDEATH PENALTY
President of Equatorial Guinea, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, has signed the resolution 426 which states that
President of Equatorial Guinea, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, has signed the resolution 426 which states that
- FEBRUARY 11, 2014DEATH PENALTY
WASHINGTON (USA): GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS
Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced today that he would issue a reprieve for any death penalty case that reaches his desk.
- FEBRUARY 11, 2014WashingtonDEATH PENALTY
USA - Washington. Governor Announces Moratorium on Executions.
USA - Washington. Governor Announces Moratorium on Executions.
- JANUARY 24, 2014LebanonDEATH PENALTY
LEBANON: MINISTER OF JUSTICE, 'THE MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS CONTINUES'
Beirut hosted a national conference against the death penalty in Lebanon. The conference, held at the
- JANUARY 22, 2014IranDEATH PENALTY
IRAN: UN RIGHTS EXPERTS ‘ALARMED’ AT SHARP INCREASE IN HANGINGS, URGES HALT TO EXECUTIONS
Independent United Nations human rights expert today called on the Government of Iran
- JANUARY 21, 2014OregonDEATH PENALTY
USA - Oregon. The U.S. Supreme Court has turned down Gary Haugen’s request to be executed
USA - Oregon. The U.S. Supreme Court has turned down Gary Haugen’s request to be executed
- JANUARY 14, 2014ItalyDEATH PENALTY
SIERRA LEONE: CONCLUDED TODAY THE HANDS OFF CAIN CONFERENCE ON ABOLITION AND MORATORIUM OF THE DEATH PENALTY
It concluded today in Freetown, Sierra Leone, the Regional Conference on the Abolition of the Death
JANUARY 14, 2014DEATH PENALTYSIERRA LEONE: REGIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY: Final Declaration
We, delegates and participants in the Conference on the Abolition of the Death Penalty and/or Moratorium of Capital Executions...
- JANUARY 13, 2014ItalyDEATH PENALTY
UNDERWAY THE HANDS OFF CAIN CONFERENCE ON ABOLITION AND MORATORIUM IN SIERRA LEONE
Today in Freetown, Sierra Leone, started the Regional Conference on abolition of the death penalty and moratorium. The conference is sponsored by the Government of Sierra Leone and by Hands Off Cain thanks to the financial support of the Ministry of Forei
JANUARY 13, 2014IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: AL-MALIKI, ISLAM AND CONSTITUTION AUTHORISE CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki publicly rebuked UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's call for
- JANUARY 1, 2014United Arab EmiratesDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is rarely applied in the UAE...
The death penalty is rarely applied in the UAE...
- JANUARY 1, 2014MadagascarDEATH PENALTY
The last executions in Madagascar were carried out under French colonial rule in 1958.
The last executions in Madagascar were carried out under French colonial rule in 1958.
- JANUARY 1, 2014PakistanDEATH PENALTY
Pakistan sanctions the death penalty for 27 offences
Pakistan sanctions the death penalty for 27 offences
- JANUARY 1, 2014IndonesiaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is applicable for murder..
The death penalty is applicable for murder...
- JANUARY 1, 2014Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
On 28 May 2013, Papua New Guinea repealed
On 28 May 2013, Papua New Guinea repealed