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
- JULY 31, 2010ItalyDEATH PENALTY
HANDS OFF CAIN HANDS THE 2010 ABOLITIONIST OF THE YEAR AWARD TO JEAN PING, PRESIDENT OF THE AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION
during the ceremony that was held today at the Hands Off Cain headquarters, Senate Vice President Emma Bonino handed the “Abolitionist of the Year” award to the President of the African Union Commission, Jean Ping.
- JULY 31, 2010ItalyDEATH PENALTY
HANDS OFF CAIN 2010 REPORT: THE DATA CONFIRMS THE POSITIVE EVOLUTION TOWARDS THE ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY
the 2010 report, published by Reality Book and again edited by Elisabetta Zamparutti, gives an account of the most important facts relative to the death penalty in 2009 and in the first six months of 2010. The data confirms the positive evolution towards
- JULY 29, 2010DEATH PENALTY
AWARD PRESENTATION FOR ‘THE ABOLITIONIST OF THE YEAR 2010’ AND PRESENTATION OF HANDS OFF CAIN’S 2010 REPORT ‘THE DEATH PENALTY WORLDWIDE’
Saturday, July 31, 2010 – 11:00 A.M., Via di Torre Argentina 76, Rome.
- JULY 23, 2010DEATH PENALTY
AWARD PRESENTATION FOR ‘THE ABOLITIONIST OF THE YEAR 2010’ AND PRESENTATION OF HANDS OFF CAIN’S 2010 REPORT ‘THE DEATH PENALTY WORLDWIDE’
Saturday, July 31, 2010 – 10:30 A.M., Via di Torre Argentina 76, Rome.
- MAY 31, 2010TaiwanDEATH PENALTY
EU DOESN'T ACCEPT DEATH PENALTY
the European Union will not accept the death penalty, a spokeswoman said, suggesting that Taiwan should declare a moratorium or abolish the practice.
- MAY 1, 2010TaiwanDEATH PENALTY
TAIWAN: EU CONDEMNS RESUMPTION OF EXECUTIONS
the European Union condemned the resumption of executions in Taiwan,
- MARCH 30, 2010European UnionDEATH PENALTY
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: BELARUS EXECUTIONS UNDERLINE THE NEED FOR MORE EU ACTION
Amnesty International is urging the EU to strongly and publicly condemn the two executions in Belarus from earlier this month.
- FEBRUARY 26, 2010ItalyDEATH PENALTY
GENEVA: WORLD CONGRESS AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY- PRESIDED OVER BY HANDS OFF CAIN
the fourth World Congress Against the Death Penalty concluded today in Geneva. It was organised by
- FEBRUARY 24, 2010SpainDEATH PENALTY
GENEVA: CONGRESS OPENS WITH CALL TO END DEATH PENALTY
Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero has told an anti-death penalty conference
- FEBRUARY 24, 2010ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALY TO SEEK NEW UN RESOLUTION TO HALT DEATH PENALTY
Italy is preparing a new resolution at the United Nations to abolish capital punishment worldwide
FEBRUARY 16, 2010IraqDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: EUROPEAN ALLIES CALL FOR HALT TO DEATH PENALTY
Britain, France and Italy called on Iraq to halt use of the death penalty, expressing concern at a growth in the number of executions in the past two years.
JANUARY 14, 2010MongoliaDEATH PENALTYMONGOLIA: PRESIDENT INTRODUCES CAPITAL PUNISHMENT MORATORIUM
Mongolia's president announced a moratorium on the death penalty, a move that rights groups welcomed as a step toward changing Mongolian law to ban executions permanently.
- JANUARY 1, 2010DenmarkDEATH PENALTY
Denmark has been abolitionist since 1978.
Denmark has been abolitionist since 1978.
- JANUARY 1, 2010Bosnia & HerzegovinaDEATH PENALTY
With the ratification on July 29, 2003 of the Protocol No 13...
With the ratification on July 29, 2003 of the Protocol No 13...
- JANUARY 1, 2010ColombiaDEATH PENALTY
Colombia abolished the death penalty in 1910.
Colombia abolished the death penalty in 1910.
- JANUARY 1, 2010BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty for all crimes was abolished on December 10, 1998.
The death penalty for all crimes was abolished on December 10, 1998.
- JANUARY 1, 2010Cape 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, 2010BrazilDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Brazil said
The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Brazil said
- JANUARY 1, 2010BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
Belgium abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1996.
Belgium abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1996.
- JANUARY 1, 2010BoliviaDEATH 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, 2010BeninDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is provided for in the penal code for various offences, including: murder, piracy, treason, sorcery and other practices causing public disturbance.
The death penalty is provided for in the penal code for various offences, including: murder, piracy, treason, sorcery and other practices causing public disturbance.
- JANUARY 1, 2010AustriaDEATH PENALTY
The Federal Constitutional Law of the Republic of Austria at Art. 85 states
The Federal Constitutional Law of the Republic of Austria at Art. 85 states "The death penalty is abolished."
- JANUARY 1, 2010AlbaniaDEATH PENALTY
Capital punishment was abolished from the Criminal Code on December 10, 1999...
Capital punishment was abolished from the Criminal Code on December 10, 1999...
- JANUARY 1, 2010AustraliaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was formally abolished in Australia in 1985.
The death penalty was formally abolished in Australia in 1985.
- JANUARY 1, 2010ArgentinaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished for ordinary crimes in 1984.
The death penalty was abolished for ordinary crimes in 1984.
- JANUARY 1, 2010AndorraDEATH PENALTY
Article 8 (3) of Andorra’s Constitution states:
Article 8 (3) of Andorra’s Constitution states: "The death penalty is prohibited."
- JANUARY 1, 2010AlgeriaDEATH 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, 2010AngolaDEATH PENALTY
The Constitution approved in 1992 abolished the death penalty.
The Constitution approved in 1992 abolished the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2010North CarolinaDEATH PENALTY
The method of execution is injection.
The method of execution is injection.
- JANUARY 1, 2010IllinoisDEATH PENALTY
The method of execution is injection.
The method of execution is injection.