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
- JANUARY 1, 2014North CarolinaDEATH PENALTY
The method of execution is injection.
The method of execution is injection.
- DECEMBER 20, 2013ItalyDEATH BY PUNISHMENT
THE FIFTH CONGRESS OF HANDS OFF CAIN. ELECTED BODIES AND GENERAL MOTION
The Fifth Congress of Hands off Cain ended today with the election of governing bodies and the approval of the general motion. The congress, held in conjunction with "Restricted Horizons" inside the “Due Palazzi Prison” in Padua in the twentieth anniversa
- DECEMBER 18, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
the UN General Assembly adopted – by a recorded vote of 86 in favour, to 36 against, with 61 abstentions
the UN General Assembly adopted – by a recorded vote of 86 in favour, to 36 against, with 61 abstentions
DECEMBER 6, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: SWITZERLAND URGES FG TO REVIEW DEATH PENALTY
The Government of Switzerland has urged the Nigerian Federal Government to address the
NOVEMBER 27, 2013South SudanDEATH PENALTYSOUTH SUDAN: FOUR PEOPLE EXECUTED IN JUBA AND WAU
At least four people were executed by hanging between 12 and 18 November 2013, the South Sudan Law Society (SSLS) reported.
- NOVEMBER 19, 2013IranDEATH PENALTY
UNITED NATIONS: HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE CRITICIZES IRANIAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
The UN General Assembly’s human rights committee criticized serious rights violations in Iran, including
NOVEMBER 11, 2013DEATH PENALTYUSA: JIMMY CARTER CALLS FOR FRESH MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY
Former US president Jimmy Carter has called for a new nationwide moratorium on the death
- NOVEMBER 11, 2013United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - Former US president Jimmy Carter has called for a new nationwide moratorium on the death penalty
USA - Former US president Jimmy Carter has called for a new nationwide moratorium on the death penalty
OCTOBER 5, 2013PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: ZARDARI WELCOMES CONTINUATION OF MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY
Former President Asif Ali Zardari has welcomed the government decision to continue with the policy of
- SEPTEMBER 13, 2013DEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY: ITALY WORKS TO RELAUNCH MORATORIUM
Italy is working to establish a group of countries that will resume the campaign for a moratorium on the death penalty in the world. This was announced by Foreign Minister Emma Bonino in the Senate during a press conference sponsored by Hands Off Cain an
- SEPTEMBER 7, 2013ChinaDEATH PENALTY
TIBET: BONINO CALLS ON CHINA TO SUSPEND THE EXECUTION OF DROLMA KYAB
“I learn with sorrow the news of the death sentence of Tibetan Drolma Kyab by the Chinese People's Court of Ngaba. I have repeatedly expressed the belief that the path to full respect for human rights can have different times in different social context
JULY 4, 2013PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS EXPIRED
Pakistan's new government ended the moratorium on executions, an official said.
- JUNE 25, 2013NigeriaDEATH PENALTY
EU ADVOCATES FOR THE ABOLITION OF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN NIGERIA
the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and
JUNE 13, 2013SpainDEATH PENALTYMADRID: 5th WORLD CONGRESS AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY
Hundreds of civil society, political figures and journalists from five continents gathered in Madrid to push for the universal abolition of the death penalty during the World 5th Congress against the Death Penalty.
APRIL 21, 2013TaiwanDEATH PENALTYTAIWAN: ASHTON CONDEMNS EXECUTIONS
EU High Representative Catherine Ashton condemned the six executions that took place in Taiwan
APRIL 19, 2013IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: PILLAY CONDEMNS RAMPANT USE OF DEATH PENALTY
the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, condemned the 16 April
MARCH 27, 2013IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: 18 EXECUTED DESPITE INTERNATIONAL OUTCRY
Iraq executed 18 people this month, eight of them on the same day as an attack on the justice ministry, a top official said, despite global condemnation over its ongoing executions.
FEBRUARY 25, 2013United NationsDEATH PENALTYUN: BAN KI-MOON REAFFIRMS CALL FOR MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today reiterated his call for a global moratorium on applying
JANUARY 23, 2013BelarusDEATH PENALTYBELARUS: DEATH PENALTY ABOLITION DELAYED
The question of abolishing the death penalty in Belarus remains open, Chairman of the Constitutional
JANUARY 2, 2013Sri LankaDEATH PENALTYSRI LANKA: GOVERNMENT UNDECIDED ON IMPLEMENTING DEATH PENALTY
The Sri Lankan government said it has not yet taken a policy decision on the implementation
- JANUARY 1, 2013MongoliaDEATH PENALTY
On 13 March 2012, Mongolia acceded to the Second Optional Protocol
On 13 March 2012, Mongolia acceded to the Second Optional Protocol
- JANUARY 1, 2013BurundiDEATH PENALTY
On April 22, 2009, Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza promulgated the new criminal code
On April 22, 2009, Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza promulgated the new criminal code which abolishes the death penalty but makes homosexuality a crime punishable by jail.
- JANUARY 1, 2013IllinoisDEATH PENALTY
On March 9, 2011, Gov. Pat Quinn abolished the death penalty
On March 9, 2011, Gov. Pat Quinn abolished the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2013OmanDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is provided for under the penal laws of the Sultanate of Oman, which make reference to Sharia law.
The death penalty is provided for under the penal laws of the Sultanate of Oman, which make reference to Sharia law.
- JANUARY 1, 2013EgyptDEATH PENALTY
The Egyptian Constitution makes no reference to the death penalty.
The Egyptian Constitution makes no reference to the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2013South 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, 2013GambiaDEATH PENALTY
In Gambia, the death penalty was abolished in 1993, but re-established in August 1995 by the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council.
In Gambia, the death penalty was abolished in 1993, but re-established in August 1995 by the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council.
- JANUARY 1, 2013Sierra LeoneDEATH PENALTY
Sierra Leone’s 1991 Constitution allows the use of the death penalty for aggravated robbery
Sierra Leone’s 1991 Constitution allows the use of the death penalty for aggravated robbery
- JANUARY 1, 2013SurinameDEATH PENALTY
Aggravated murder premeditated murder and treason are capital crimes.
Aggravated murder premeditated murder and treason are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2013JamaicaDEATH PENALTY
On the issue of capital punishment, the Jamaica Constitution states...
On the issue of capital punishment, the Jamaica Constitution states...