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
- DECEMBER 18, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
HANDS OFF CAIN: WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE UN MORATORIUM NOW THE FOCUS GOES TO ITS IMPLEMENTATION
“After 15 years of campaigning, the approval of the moratorium on death penalty
- DECEMBER 18, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROVES RESOLUTION CALLING FOR DEATH PENALTY MORATORIUM
The U.N. General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for a moratorium on the death penalty with a view to abolishing capital punishment. The vote in the 192-member world body was 104-54 with 29 abstentions.
- DECEMBER 18, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
MORATORIUM. PANNELLA, IT’S A SUCCESS FOR ALL
''It is a success for everyone that, for 14 years, every day, in their own way
- DECEMBER 18, 2007BhutanDEATH PENALTY
Bhutan abstained...
Bhutan abstained...
- DECEMBER 18, 2007CubaDEATH PENALTY
Cuba abstained on the Resolution...
Cuba abstained on the Resolution...
- DECEMBER 18, 2007Congo - KinshasaDEATH PENALTY
Democratic Republic of Congo abstained...
Democratic Republic of Congo abstained...
- DECEMBER 18, 2007EritreaDEATH PENALTY
Eritrea abstained on the Resolution on a Moratorium...
Eritrea abstained on the Resolution on a Moratorium...
- DECEMBER 18, 2007GambiaDEATH PENALTY
Gambia abstained on the Resolution...
Gambia abstained on the Resolution...
- DECEMBER 18, 2007Equatorial GuineaDEATH PENALTY
Equatorial Guinea abstained on the Resolution...
Equatorial Guinea abstained on the Resolution...
- DECEMBER 18, 2007CameroonDEATH PENALTY
Cameroon abstained...
Cameroon abstained...
- DECEMBER 18, 2007FijiDEATH PENALTY
Fiji abstained on the Resolution on a Moratorium...
Fiji abstained on the Resolution on a Moratorium...
- DECEMBER 18, 2007MoroccoDEATH PENALTY
Morocco abstained on the Resolution...
Morocco abstained on the Resolution...
- DECEMBER 18, 2007LesothoDEATH PENALTY
Lesotho abstained on the Resolution on a Moratorium...
Lesotho abstained on the Resolution on a Moratorium...
- DECEMBER 18, 2007GuineaDEATH PENALTY
Guinea abstained on the Resolution on a Moratorium...
Guinea abstained on the Resolution on a Moratorium...
- DECEMBER 18, 2007LiberiaDEATH PENALTY
Liberia abstained on the Resolution on a Moratorium...
Liberia abstained on the Resolution on a Moratorium...
- DECEMBER 18, 2007LaosDEATH PENALTY
Lao abstained on the Resolution on a Moratorium...
Lao abstained on the Resolution on a Moratorium...
- DECEMBER 18, 2007MalawiDEATH PENALTY
Malawi abstained on the Resolution on a Moratorium...
Malawi abstained on the Resolution on a Moratorium...
- DECEMBER 18, 2007KenyaDEATH PENALTY
Kenya abstained on the Resolution on a Moratorium...
Kenya abstained on the Resolution on a Moratorium...
- DECEMBER 18, 2007NigerDEATH PENALTY
Niger abstained on the Resolution...
Niger abstained on the Resolution...
- DECEMBER 17, 2007JapanDEATH PENALTY
CAMPAIGNERS URGE JAPAN TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY
Campaigners opposed to the death penalty urged the Japanese government to abolish or at least suspend executions prior to the expected approval of a UN resolution later this week on a global moratorium on capital punishment
- DECEMBER 11, 2007GabonDEATH PENALTY
GABON. CONCLUSION OF HANDS OFF CAIN CONFERENCE FOR THE UN MORATORIUM ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
the conference organised by Hands Off Cain in Gabon on December 10 and 11 concluded today with the adoption of the Declaration of Libreville. The conference was held in partnership with the government of Gabon, under the patronage of President Omar Bongo
- DECEMBER 11, 2007DEATH PENALTY
DECLARATION OF LIBREVILLE
at the conclusion of the Conference organised by Hands Off Cain in Gabon, in partnership with the Government of Gabon, the following declaration was adopted:
- DECEMBER 8, 2007DEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY. HANDS OFF CAIN CONFERENCE IN GABON FOR MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS
Hands Off Cain will hold a conference beginning December 10, the Global Day of Human Rights, in Libreville. The conference was organised by Hands Off Cain with the Government of Gabon, with thanks to the financial support of the Dutch Government.
- DECEMBER 3, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
UN. BONINO WORKS FOR A MAJORITY ON THE MORATORIUM
“These are weeks of big diplomatic activity to convince a majority of countries to vote YES,” Emma Bonino, Minister for Community Politics, said in Madrid.
- NOVEMBER 29, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
MORATORIUM. ITALIAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTRY, GENERAL ASSEMBLY VOTE ISN'T FOREGONE CONCLUSION
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, Pasquale Ferrara, cautioned that “vigilance is required until the
- NOVEMBER 22, 2007MalawiDEATH PENALTY
BRITAIN URGES MALAWI TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY: EMBASSY
Britain urged Malawi to abolish capital punishment, still a contentious issue here after the poor southern African nation issued a moratorium on executions 15 years ago.
- NOVEMBER 21, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY. UN VOTE ON MORATORIUM DECEMBER 19 OR 20
the final vote by the UN General Assembly on the Moratorium on capital
- NOVEMBER 19, 2007IraqDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. END TO DEATH PENALTY 'NOT FAVOURABLE', GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL
the moratorium on the death penalty adopted last week by the United Nations
- NOVEMBER 19, 2007Vatican CityDEATH PENALTY
VATICAN SPOKESMAN BACKS UN DRIVE TO END DEATH PENALTY
the Vatican's official spokesman praised a UN initiative calling for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty, calling it “a step in the direction of humanity and of respect for the person.”
- NOVEMBER 15, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
UN PANEL ADOPTS RESOLUTION CALLING FOR MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY
the Third Commission of the United Nations passed apassed a resolution calling for a moratorium on executions with the ultimate goal of eventually abolishing the practice despite fierce opposition from several members.