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, 2012MontenegroDEATH PENALTY
Montenegro is completely abolitionist
Montenegro is completely abolitionist
- JANUARY 1, 2012PolandDEATH PENALTY
Poland abolished the death penalty in 1997 and a penal code introduced in 1998 replaced it with life imprisonment.
Poland abolished the death penalty in 1997 and a penal code introduced in 1998 replaced it with life imprisonment.
- JANUARY 1, 2012MoldovaDEATH 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, 2012NorwayDEATH PENALTY
Abolitionist for common crimes since 1905, Norway has been fully abolitionist since 1979.
Abolitionist for common crimes since 1905, Norway has been fully abolitionist since 1979.
- JANUARY 1, 2012North MacedoniaDEATH PENALTY
The 1991 (amended in 2001) Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia at Art. 10 states:
The 1991 (amended in 2001) Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia at Art. 10 states: "The human right to life is irrevocable.
- JANUARY 1, 2012UkraineDEATH PENALTY
Ukraine abolished the death penalty in February 2000, with an overwhelming majority vote of the members of the Ukrainian parliament.
Ukraine abolished the death penalty in February 2000, with an overwhelming majority vote of the members of the Ukrainian parliament.
- JANUARY 1, 2012United KingdomDEATH PENALTY
The United Kingdom abolished the death penalty for murder on December 18...
The United Kingdom abolished the death penalty for murder on December 18...
- JANUARY 1, 2012SloveniaDEATH PENALTY
Slovenia abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1989.
Slovenia abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1989.
- JANUARY 1, 2012TürkiyeDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been fully abolished by a package of constitutional and legislative amendments.
The death penalty has been fully abolished by a package of constitutional and legislative amendments.
- JANUARY 1, 2012SlovakiaDEATH PENALTY
Slovakia abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1990.
Slovakia abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1990.
- JANUARY 1, 2012SwedenDEATH PENALTY
Sweden abolished capital punishment for ordinary crimes in 1921 and has been abolitionist for all crimes since 1972.
Sweden abolished capital punishment for ordinary crimes in 1921 and has been abolitionist for all crimes since 1972.
- JANUARY 1, 2012SwitzerlandDEATH PENALTY
After abolishing the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1942, Switzerland became fully abolitionist in 1992.
After abolishing the death penalty for ordinary crimes in 1942, Switzerland became fully abolitionist in 1992.
- JANUARY 1, 2012AlgeriaDEATH PENALTY
Algeria’s laws prescribe the death penalty for a range of crimes including ordinary crimes.
Algeria’s laws prescribe the death penalty for a range of crimes including ordinary crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2012SpainDEATH PENALTY
Spain became completely abolitionist in 1995.
Spain became completely abolitionist in 1995.
- JANUARY 1, 2012Congo - BrazzavilleDEATH PENALTY
Murder, treason, spying and offences against the State are capital crimes.
Murder, treason, spying and offences against the State are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2012AngolaDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution approved in 1992 abolished the death penalty.
The Constitution approved in 1992 abolished the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2012BoliviaDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of Bolivia, under article 17 bars the death penalty.
The Constitution of Bolivia, under article 17 bars the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2012MozambiqueDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of the Republic of Mozambique (1990) at Art. 70 states:
The Constitution of the Republic of Mozambique (1990) at Art. 70 states: "1. All citizens shall have the right to life.
- JANUARY 1, 2012BeninDEATH PENALTY
On July 5, 2012, with the deposit of its instrument of accession...
On July 5, 2012, with the deposit of its instrument of accession, Benin has become part of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), aiming at the abolition of the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2012Cape VerdeDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of the Republic of Cape Verde (1992) states at Art. 26 (2):
The Constitution of the Republic of Cape Verde (1992) states at Art. 26 (2): "No one shall be subjected to torture or cruel, degrading or inhuman punishment or treatment, and in no circumstances shall there be the death penalty."
- JANUARY 1, 2012Guinea-BissauDEATH PENALTY
Guinea Bissau abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1993.
Guinea Bissau abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1993.
- JANUARY 1, 2012ArgentinaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished for ordinary crimes in 1984.
The death penalty was abolished for ordinary crimes in 1984.
- JANUARY 1, 2012RwandaDEATH PENALTY
Rwanda is the first African country in the Great Lakes region to abolish the death penalty
Rwanda is the first African country in the Great Lakes region to abolish the death penalty
- JANUARY 1, 2012MaliDEATH PENALTY
Death sentences are given in Mali for serious crimes such as assassinations...
Death sentences are given in Mali for serious crimes such as assassinations...
- JANUARY 1, 2012EcuadorDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador at Art. 23 states:
The Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador at Art. 23 states:
- JANUARY 1, 2012HaitiDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of the Republic of Haiti (1987) at Art. 20 states:
The Constitution of the Republic of Haiti (1987) at Art. 20 states:
- JANUARY 1, 2012El 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, 2012NicaraguaDEATH 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, 2012ColombiaDEATH PENALTY
Colombia abolished the death penalty in 1910.
Colombia abolished the death penalty in 1910.
- JANUARY 1, 2012HondurasDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of the Republic of Honduras at Art. 66 states:
The Constitution of the Republic of Honduras at Art. 66 states: "The death penalty is prohibited."