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
- NOVEMBER 19, 2012DEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY: MISSION OF THE NON VIOLENT RADICAL PARTY IN CHAD
Today begins a four-day mission of Hands Off Cain and the Radical Party in Chad to support the abolitionist process internally and to gain the support of the African country to the UN resolution for the universal moratorium on executions.
- NOVEMBER 19, 2012ItalyDEATH PENALTY
UNITED NATIONS: NEW RESOLUTION PRO MORATORIUM VOTED BY A RECORD NUMBER OF 110 COUNTRIES
The UN General Assembly’s Third Committee in New York adopted a new resolution
- NOVEMBER 14, 2012South SudanDEATH PENALTY
SOUTH SUDAN TO UPHOLD DEATH PENALTY
South Sudan will continue to apply the death sentence to convicts of treason and murder
OCTOBER 29, 2012NigeriaDEATH PENALTYNIGERIA: AFRICAN COMMISION WANTS FG TO STOP HANGING OF EDO DEATH ROW INMATES
The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, ACHPR, has called on the Federal Government
- OCTOBER 26, 2012ItalyDEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY: THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC READY TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE UN MORATORIUM AND ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY
The delegation of the Radical Party and Hands Off Cain today ended its mission in the Central African Republic meeting with the Prime Minister Faustin-Archange Touadera.
OCTOBER 23, 2012United NationsDEATH PENALTYUN: REPORT SAYS DEATH PENALTY SHOULD BE BANNED UNDER TORTURE CONVENTIONS
Countries around the world are increasingly viewing capital punishment as a form of torture
- OCTOBER 10, 2012AustriaDEATH PENALTY
six countries joined forces to call for the
six countries joined forces to call for the "complete abolition" of the death penalty worldwide.
- OCTOBER 8, 2012ItalyDEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY: MISSION OF THE RADICAL PARTY IN SIERRA LEONE
Today begins a four days mission of Hands Off Cain and the Radical Party in Sierra Leone. The mission is aimed to obtain a legal moratorium or the abolition of the death penalty in the country, and the support of the African country to the Resolution of
- SEPTEMBER 28, 2012JapanDEATH PENALTY
the European Union condemned two executions in Japan
the European Union condemned two executions in Japan
- SEPTEMBER 24, 2012MadagascarDEATH PENALTY
MADAGASCAR SCRAPS CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
On the sidelines of the ongoing 67th UN General Assembly in New York, Madagascar President
- SEPTEMBER 24, 2012South SudanDEATH PENALTY
Agenzia Fides reported that the Comboni Missionaries have launched a petition
Agenzia Fides reported that the Comboni Missionaries have launched a petition
- SEPTEMBER 14, 2012GambiaDEATH PENALTY
GAMBIA'S PRESIDENT SAYS SUSPENDING EXECUTIONS, FOR NOW
Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh has placed a moratorium on the execution of the remaining 38 prisoners on death row in the west African state following appeals from regional leaders, the government said in a statement.
- AUGUST 30, 2012GambiaDEATH PENALTY
GAMBIA URGED TO STOP PRISONER EXECUTIONS
International Organizations have called on Gambia to stop executing death row inmates.
- AUGUST 7, 2012BahamasDEATH PENALTY
CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES URGED TO IMPOSE MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY
The Inter American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has called on several Caribbean
- AUGUST 3, 2012DEATH PENALTY
HOC PRO MORATORIUM CAMPAIGN OUTLOOK
In December 2012, the General Assembly will vote a new resolution in favor of a moratorium
- AUGUST 3, 2012OregonDEATH PENALTY
USA - Oregon. Judge Timothy Alexander ruled that Gary Haugen, who wants to be executed, is not required to accept clemency from Governor John Kitzhaber.
USA - Oregon. Judge Timothy Alexander ruled that Gary Haugen, who wants to be executed, is not required to accept clemency from Governor John Kitzhaber.
- JULY 24, 2012IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQI AUTHORITIES URGED TO HALT EXECUTION OF 196 PEOPLE IN ANBAR
Amnesty International has condemned the “alarming” news that nearly 200 executions
JULY 10, 2012MoroccoDEATH PENALTYMOROCCO: MOROCCAN COALITION AND PAM PARTY FOR THE ABOLITION IMMEDIATELY
the President of "Moroccan Coalition against the Death Penalty", Abderrahim El Jamai, has asked the government to honor its international commitments and sponsor the Resolution on moratorium on the use of the death penalty, which will be put to a vote of
JULY 3, 2012United NationsDEATH PENALTYUN: SECRETARY-GENERAL CALLS ON STATES TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today called on Member States which use the death penalty to abolish this practice, stressing that the right to life lies at the heart of international human rights law.
APRIL 18, 2012PakistanDEATH PENALTYPAKISTAN: DEATH PENALTY STATUS QUO
As many as 313 people, including six women, were sentenced to death by various
APRIL 4, 2012IraqDEATH PENALTYUN: BAN KI-MOON URGES HALT TO EXECUTIONS IN IRAQ
Iraq should impose a moratorium on executions in the country, which has seen a sharp rise in
MARCH 31, 2012Congo - KinshasaDEATH PENALTYDEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: MINISTERS IN FAVOR OF AN IRREVERSIBLE MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS
At the interregional conference against the death penalty in Central Africa, organized by Ensemble
- MARCH 29, 2012JapanDEATH PENALTY
EU 'REGRETS' JAPAN EXECUTIONS, URGES MORATORIUM
The European Union voiced "regret" at Japan's resumption of capital punishment after a 20-month
- MARCH 20, 2012BelarusDEATH PENALTY
RUSSIA CALLS ON MINSK TO JOIN MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY
Russia wants all European countries including Belarus to join the moratorium on the death penalty
- MARCH 6, 2012ThailandDEATH PENALTY
in its response to the recommendations received on 5 October 2011 under...
in its response to the recommendations received on 5 October 2011 under...
MARCH 1, 2012MalaysiaDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: MINISTER FOR ABOLISHING DEATH PENALTY
In Malaysia, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz called
- FEBRUARY 13, 2012BelarusDEATH PENALTY
EU ISSUES STATEMENT ON DEATH SENTENCES IN BELARUS
The EU has issued a statement saying it is “deeply concerned” that two men facing
JANUARY 24, 2012IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: UN HUMAN RIGHTS CHIEF CONDEMNS EXECUTIONS AS 'SHOCKING'
The United Nations human rights chief said today she was shocked at reports that 34 people were executed in Iraq in a single day last week and called on the country to institute an immediate moratorium on the use of the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2012BurundiDEATH 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, 2012VietnamDEATH PENALTY
Vietnam applies the death penalty for 29 different crimes.
Vietnam applies the death penalty for 29 different crimes.