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
- JUNE 11, 2009Congo - KinshasaDEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO STARTS TOWARDS ABOLITION WITH A LEGAL MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS
Hands Off Cain organised a conference in Kinshasa against the death penalty in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) that was sponsorsed by the Congolese National Assembly President and Senate President, with the contribution of the Minister of Foreign A
- MAY 25, 2009ItalyDEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY: SCOTTI- ITALY WORKS TOWARDS NEW UN RESOLUTION
‘Italy and other countries are working towards a new resolution against the death
- APRIL 8, 2009AlabamaDEATH PENALTY
USA - Alabama. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 6 to 1 today in favor of a 3-year moratorium on executions.
USA - Alabama. The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 6 to 1 today in favor of a 3-year moratorium on executions.
- MARCH 25, 2009BelarusDEATH PENALTY
BELARUS SAYS MOVES TOWARDS DEATH PENALTY MORATORIUM
Belarus is moving closer to a moratorium on the death penalty, a senior judicial official
MARCH 24, 2009United KingdomDEATH PENALTYAMNESTY: 2,390 EXECUTED LAST YEAR
Countries in Asia carried out more executions in 2008 than the rest of the world put
- MARCH 17, 2009Sri LankaDEATH PENALTY
in considering an individual communication under the Optional Protocol...
in considering an individual communication under the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the Human Rights Committee said the automatic and mandatory imposition of the death penalty constituted an arbitrar
- MARCH 6, 2009BelarusDEATH PENALTY
MP PROPOSES INTRODUCING MORATORIUM IN BELARUS
the Belarusian authorities are unlikely to agree to abolish the death penalty in the
- MARCH 2, 2009ItalyDEATH PENALTY
PANNELLA WANTS AZIZ'S ACCOMPLICES TO BE SPARED AS WELL
“We acknowledged that intervening and preventing the state assassination in Iraq of Tareq Aziz, an official
- FEBRUARY 6, 2009IllinoisDEATH PENALTY
ILLINOIS (USA): GOV. QUINN SAYS DEATH PENALTY MORATORIUM STAYS
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn said he has no immediate plans to lift the state's 9-year-old death penalty moratorium
FEBRUARY 4, 2009IranDEATH PENALTYIRAN: LAWYERS URGE AN END TO EXECUTION OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS
a group of 150 Iranian lawyers addressed a letter to the country's judiciary chief, Ayatollah Mahmoud
- JANUARY 1, 2009BelizeDEATH PENALTY
Murder and military offences are capital crimes.
Murder and military offences are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2009ZambiaDEATH PENALTY
The Zambia Constitution of 1991, allows the death penalty in Part III
The Zambia Constitution of 1991, allows the death penalty in Part III
- JANUARY 1, 2009BahrainDEATH PENALTY
The offences for which capital punishment either can or must be applied are
The offences for which capital punishment either can or must be applied are
- JANUARY 1, 2009BruneiDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is mandatory for murder, unlawful possession of firearms and explosives
The death penalty is mandatory for murder, unlawful possession of firearms and explosives
- JANUARY 1, 2009LesothoDEATH PENALTY
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
Murder, rape and treason are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2009LaosDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
The death penalty in Laos is applied in cases of treason, murder and rape
- JANUARY 1, 2009TogoDEATH 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, 2009MoroccoDEATH PENALTY
Morocco retains the death penalty for ordinary crimes and military crimes.
Morocco retains the death penalty for ordinary crimes and military crimes..
- JANUARY 1, 2009LebanonDEATH PENALTY
Lebanon reinstated the death penalty in 1994 in a bid to stem a rise in violent crime following the 1975-90 civil war.
Lebanon reinstated the death penalty in 1994 in a bid to stem a rise in violent crime following the 1975-90 civil war.
- JANUARY 1, 2009GuineaDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes include aggravated murder, spying and armed robbery.
Capital crimes include aggravated murder, spying and armed robbery.
- JANUARY 1, 2009KenyaDEATH PENALTY
Murder, treason and armed robbery are capital crimes.
Murder, treason and armed robbery are capital crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2009Congo - KinshasaDEATH PENALTY
Capital crimes are: aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, treason...
Capital crimes are: aggravated murder, aggravated robbery, treason, spying, political and military offences and genocide.
- JANUARY 1, 2009FijiDEATH PENALTY
Fiji abolished the death penalty for treason and piracy in February 2002
Fiji abolished the death penalty for treason and piracy in February 2002
- JANUARY 1, 2009GambiaDEATH 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, 2009CubaDEATH PENALTY
The Penal Code presently in force provides for the death penalty for 112 offences, 33 of which are common crimes.
The Penal Code presently in force provides for the death penalty for 112 offences, 33 of which are common crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2009CameroonDEATH PENALTY
Cameroon applies the death penalty for treason.
Cameroon applies the death penalty for treason.
- JANUARY 1, 2009BhutanDEATH PENALTY
On March 20, 2004 the King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuk, issued a royal decree (“kasho”) abolishing the death penalty in the kingdom.
On March 20, 2004 the King of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuk, issued a royal decree (“kasho”) abolishing the death penalty in the kingdom.
- JANUARY 1, 2009SenegalDEATH PENALTY
On December 10, 2004 Senegal’s National Assembly, with a resounding majority, voted to abolish the death penalty for all crimes.
On December 10, 2004 Senegal’s National Assembly, with a resounding majority, voted to abolish the death penalty for all crimes.
- JANUARY 1, 2009IllinoisDEATH PENALTY
The method of execution is injection.
The method of execution is injection.
- JANUARY 1, 2009North CarolinaDEATH PENALTY
The method of execution is injection.
The method of execution is injection.