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
JUNE 18, 2020United StatesDEATH PENALTYUSA - Utah. Utah has gone more than a decade without carrying out an execution.
USA - Utah. Utah has gone more than a decade without carrying out an execution.
JUNE 10, 2020ZimbabweDEATH PENALTYZIMBABWE: MNANGAGWA REITERATES STANCE ON DEATH PENALTY
President Mnangagwa has reiterated his call for the abolition of capital punishment in Zimbabwe and has noted that a moratorium on executions has been in place since 2005.
JUNE 3, 2020DEATH PENALTYCOVID-19: CALLING FOR A WORLDWIDE MORATORIUM ON THE DEATH PENALTY DURING THE PANDEMIC
“When the whole world is trying hard to save lives from COVID-19, an execution by the state is contradictory and perverse” said Kevin Miguel Rivera Medina, President of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty.
MARCH 31, 2020IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Iran Human Rights publishes its
IRAN - Iran Human Rights publishes its "Annual Death Penalty Report in Iran in 2019": 280 executions.
- MARCH 26, 2020United NationsDEATH PENALTY
A DAY AFTER NIRBHAYA CONVICTS' EXECUTION, UN ASKS STATES TO 'HALT USE OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT'
The United Nations on 21 March 2020 called on all nations to stop the use of capital punishment or put a moratorium on it, a day after four men convicted of gang-raping and murdering a 23-year-old woman were hanged in India.
- MARCH 12, 2020United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - The Winter 2020 edition of Death Row USA (DRUSA), updated to January 1, 2020
USA - The Winter 2020 edition of Death Row USA (DRUSA), updated to January 1, 2020
- FEBRUARY 22, 2020CaliforniaDEATH PENALTY
USA - California. California Announces Pilot Program to Move Some Death-Row Prisoners Out of San Quentin.
USA - California. California Announces Pilot Program to Move Some Death-Row Prisoners Out of San Quentin.
- JANUARY 28, 2020United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Death Row USA Fall 2019: Death row prisoners continue to decline
USA - Death Row USA Fall 2019: Death row prisoners continue to decline
- JANUARY 1, 2020South SudanDEATH PENALTY
The Republic of South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011
The Republic of South Sudan gained independence from Sudan on 9 July 2011
- JANUARY 1, 2020MoldovaDEATH PENALTY
Moldova abolished the death penalty for all crimes in December 1995...
Moldova abolished the death penalty for all crimes in December 1995 but the Constitution retains it for crimes committed during war or with an inevitable threat of war.
- JANUARY 1, 2020San MarinoDEATH PENALTY
San Marino abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1848 and fully abolished it in 1865.
San Marino abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1848 and fully abolished it in 1865.
- JANUARY 1, 2020IrelandDEATH PENALTY
Ireland abolished the death penalty in 1990.
Ireland abolished the death penalty in 1990.
- JANUARY 1, 2020AngolaDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution approved in 1992 abolished the death penalty.
The Constitution approved in 1992 abolished the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2020FinlandDEATH PENALTY
Finland abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1949, and for all crimes in 1972.
Finland abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1949, and for all crimes in 1972.
- JANUARY 1, 2020SerbiaDEATH PENALTY
Serbia abolished the death penalty for all crimes on February 26, 2002
Serbia abolished the death penalty for all crimes on February 26, 2002
- JANUARY 1, 2020GeorgiaDEATH PENALTY
Georgia abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1997.
Georgia abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1997.
- JANUARY 1, 2020North CarolinaDEATH PENALTY
The method of execution is injection.
The method of execution is injection.
- JANUARY 1, 2020NicaraguaDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of the Republic of Nicaragua (1987) at Art. 23 states:
The Constitution of the Republic of Nicaragua (1987) at Art. 23 states: "The right to life is inviolable
- JANUARY 1, 2020ParaguayDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of Paraguay (1992) at Art. 4,
The Constitution of Paraguay (1992) at Art. 4, "The Right to life," states in part: "The death penalty is abolished."
- JANUARY 1, 2020LiechtensteinDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished for all crimes in 1987.
The death penalty was abolished for all crimes in 1987.
- JANUARY 1, 2020El SalvadorDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in El Salvador in 1983 for all crimes
The death penalty was abolished in El Salvador in 1983 for all crimes
- JANUARY 1, 2020SurinameDEATH PENALTY
Aggravated murder premeditated murder and treason are capital crimes.
Aggravated murder premeditated murder and treason are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2020UruguayDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay (1967) at Art. 26 states: ‘the death penalty shall not be applied to anyone.’
The Constitution of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay (1967) at Art. 26 states: ‘the death penalty shall not be applied to anyone.’
- JANUARY 1, 2020PeruDEATH PENALTY
Peru has been abolitionist for common crimes since 1979, when the last execution was held.
Peru has been abolitionist for common crimes since 1979, when the last execution was held.
- JANUARY 1, 2020DenmarkDEATH PENALTY
Denmark has been abolitionist since 1978.
Denmark has been abolitionist since 1978.
- JANUARY 1, 2020MongoliaDEATH 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, 2020AndorraDEATH PENALTY
Article 8 (3) of Andorra’s Constitution states:
Article 8 (3) of Andorra’s Constitution states: "The death penalty is prohibited."
- JANUARY 1, 2020IsraelDEATH PENALTY
The country has been abolitionist for ordinary crimes since 1954.
The country has been abolitionist for ordinary crimes since 1954.
- JANUARY 1, 2020LesothoDEATH PENALTY
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2020IllinoisDEATH PENALTY
On March 9, 2011, Gov. Pat Quinn abolished the death penalty
On March 9, 2011, Gov. Pat Quinn abolished the death penalty