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
- JANUARY 1, 2011North KoreaDEATH PENALTY
In its 2001 report submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee
In its 2001 report submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee
- JANUARY 1, 2011Myanmar (Burma)DEATH PENALTY
High treason and premeditated murder are capital crimes in Myanmar.
High treason and premeditated murder are capital crimes in Myanmar.
- JANUARY 1, 2011MongoliaDEATH PENALTY
As reduced by an amendment of 1994 to the criminal code...
As reduced by an amendment of 1994 to the criminal code...
- JANUARY 1, 2011IraqDEATH PENALTY
On April 9, 2003 Saddam Hussein’s Baathist regime was overthrown by a US-led military coalition.
On April 9, 2003 Saddam Hussein’s Baathist regime was overthrown by a US-led military coalition.
- JANUARY 1, 2011TogoDEATH PENALTY
On June 23, 2009, Togo's parliament voted unanimously to abolish the death penalty.
On June 23, 2009, Togo's parliament voted unanimously to abolish the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2011TunisiaDEATH PENALTY
Murder, violence and aggression, attacks against the internal security of the State and attacks against the external security of the State are all capital offences.
Murder, violence and aggression, attacks against the internal security of the State and attacks against the external security of the State are all capital offences.
- DECEMBER 21, 2010United NationsDEATH PENALTY
NEW RESOLUTION APPROVED BY THE UN. THE PRO MORATORIUM FRONT GROWS
The United Nations General Assembly approved a new resolution in favour of a universal moratorium on the death penalty. It is the third time after the historic resolution approved in December 2007 and then again in December 2008.
- DECEMBER 20, 2010ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALIAN HOSPIRA AFFILIATE GUARANTEE ON PENTOTAL
the Italian heads of American company Hospira have made themselves widely available to collaborate with Italian authorities, accepting that the production and sale of Pentotal will be exclusively authorised for medical purposes.
- DECEMBER 9, 2010ItalyDEATH PENALTY
GHANA: HANDS OFF CAIN MISSION FOR DEATH PENALTY ABOLITION
After the missions in Zambia, Mali and Congo-Brazaville, the Hands Off Cain campaign for the abolition of the death penalty in Africa continues in Ghana.
- DECEMBER 2, 2010ItalyDEATH PENALTY
HANDS OFF CAIN: LETHAL INJECTION IN USA WITH PENTOTAL PRODUCED IN ITALY
the order to produce Sodium Thiopental destined for US jails arrived directly from the American headquarters, based in Lake Forrest, Illinois, the dossier 'Lethal Trade' presented today in Rome by Hands Off Cain and Reprieve denounced.
- DECEMBER 1, 2010DEATH PENALTY
“LETHAL TRADE”
On Thursday December 2nd, at 11 o'clock, at the headquarters at via di Torre Argentina 76, Rome, a press conference will be held on the Italian production of Sodium Thiopental destined for executions in the United States.
- NOVEMBER 29, 2010IllinoisDEATH PENALTY
USA - Illinois. The House Judiciary Committee voted 4-3 to abolish the death penalty
USA - Illinois. The House Judiciary Committee voted 4-3 to abolish the death penalty
- NOVEMBER 24, 2010Congo - BrazzavilleDEATH PENALTY
CONGO: HANDS OFF CAIN MISSION – JUSTICE MINISTER FOR ABOLITION
the Hands Off Cain delegation, comprising parliamentarian Elisabetta Zamparutti
- NOVEMBER 24, 2010BangladeshDEATH PENALTY
BANGLADESH: COURT HANDS DOWN DEATH PENALTY TO 18 PEOPLE
in Bangladesh, Additional district and sessions judge Abdur Rahim Mridha sentenced
- NOVEMBER 23, 2010ItalyDEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY: ZAMPARUTTI (RADICALS)- ITALY SHOULD NOT BE COMPLICIT IN US EXECUTIONS
after last week having presented an urgent question to the President of the Council
- NOVEMBER 11, 2010ItalyDEATH PENALTY
MALI: HANDS OFF CAIN MISSION FOR ABOLITION AND UN MORATORIUM CONTINUES
the Hands Off Cain and Radical Party mission in Mali is continuing. Its objectives are to accelerate the parliamentary procedures for the definitive abolition of the death penalty in the country and to gain Mali's support for two important resolutions in
- NOVEMBER 11, 2010United NationsDEATH PENALTY
UNITED NATIONS: THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY’S HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE ADOPTS A RESOLUTION ON A MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS
The UN General Assembly would, for the third time in four years, renew its call for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty under the terms of a draft resolution approved today in the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) by a recorded
- NOVEMBER 11, 2010ItalyDEATH PENALTY
HANDS OFF CAIN: NOW DEATH PENALTY MORATORIUM FOR TAREQ AZIZ AS WELL
"The new vote at the United Nations in favour of the moratorium records the positive
- NOVEMBER 11, 2010ItalyDEATH PENALTY
MALI: HANDS OFF CAIN MISSION - HEARING IN PARLIAMENT AND VISIT TO BAMAKO WOMEN'S PRISON
the Hands Off Cain delegation in Mali (comprising Marco Pannella
- NOVEMBER 11, 2010United StatesDEATH PENALTY
USA - US opposed the moratorium vote at the U.N. The U.N General Assembly Human Rights Committee
USA - US opposed the moratorium vote at the U.N. The U.N General Assembly Human Rights Committee
- NOVEMBER 10, 2010ItalyDEATH PENALTY
MALI: THE HANDS OFF CAIN MISSION'S FIRST MEETINGS FOR ABOLITION AND THE UN MORATORIUM
the Hands Off Cain and Radical Party delegation in Mali, comprising Marco Pannella
- OCTOBER 27, 2010DEATH PENALTY
ITALY: MOTION ON THE DEATH PENALTY AGAINST TAREQ AZIZ
Radical Deputies and Senators presented in the Italian Parliament a motion on the death
- OCTOBER 14, 2010ItalyDEATH PENALTY
HANDS OFF CAIN MISSION IN ZAMBIA FOR ABOLITION AND MORATORIUM CONCLUDES
the mission in Zambia by Radical parliamentarians Elisabetta Zamparutti and Marco Perduca concluded with meetings with the foreign minister and the president of the Republic.
- OCTOBER 13, 2010ItalyDEATH PENALTY
HANDS OFF CAIN MISSION IN ZAMBIA CONTINUES FOR ABOLITION AND UN MORATORIUM
after participating yesterday at the “Death Has No Appeal” forum organised by the European Union in Lusaka, the Hands Off Cain delegation in Zambia (comprised of Radical parliamentarians Elizabetta Zamparutti and Marco Perduca) met the Zambian parliamenta
- OCTOBER 12, 2010ItalyDEATH PENALTY
HANDS OFF CAIN MISSION IN ZAMBIA FOR ABOLITION AND UN MORATORIUM
a delegation from Hands Off Cain is now in Zambia, the first step in a mission against the death
- OCTOBER 10, 2010ItalyDEATH PENALTY
HANDS OFF CAIN PRESENT THE INITIATIVES FOR THE WORLD DAY AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY
at a conference held in Rome on October 10 on the World Day Against the Death Penalty, Hands Off Cain presented the dossier “Sakineh and the others” on stoning around the world and showed a video by the Iranian Resistance with images of a double stoning,
- OCTOBER 7, 2010European UnionDEATH PENALTY
EP: RESOLUTION DEMANDS WORLDWIDE MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS
To coincide with the eighth World Day against the Death Penalty, MEPs adopted a resolution condemning
- OCTOBER 7, 2010SpainDEATH PENALTY
SPAIN: ZAPATERO CALLS FOR WORLDWIDE MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY
Spanish Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, called for a worldwide moratorium
- OCTOBER 6, 2010ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALY: THE CHAMBER APPROVES ZAMPARUTTI'S MOTION IN FAVOUR OF A NEW UN PRO MORATORIUM RESOLUTION
today the Chamber of Deputies unanimously approved (with only two abstentions) a motion presented by Radical Parliamentarian Elisabetta Zamparutti and signed by representatives of all political groups.
- JULY 31, 2010ItalyDEATH PENALTY
HANDS OFF CAIN PRESENTS THE 2010 REPORT ON THE DEATH PENALTY WORLDWIDE
the 2010 Report on the death penalty worldwide, edited by Elisabetta Zamparutti, was presented by Hands Off Cain at their headquarters in Rome. Attending the press conference was the President of the African Union Commission, Jean Ping. Mr Ping was awarde