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
APRIL 20, 2007United KingdomDEATH PENALTYUK. HOUSE OF COMMONS, MOTION IN FAVOUR OF MORATORIUM
a motion hailing the Italian initiative on the moratorium on capital punishment was presented to the UK
APRIL 19, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYDEATH PENALTY. THE RADICALS ON THE MORATORIUM
The radical organisations Hands Off Cain, the Italian Radicals, the Transnational Radical Party and the Coscioni Association have released the following statement:
- APRIL 18, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
UN SECRETARY GENERAL BACKS ITALY ON DEATH PENALTY BAN
Italy earned the backing of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in its drive to ban the death penalty worldwide.
APRIL 17, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYMORATORIUM. D’ALEMA, RESOLUTION MUST BE APPROVED BY EU CONSENSUS
during his visit to Algiers, the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Massimo D'Alema, explained that submitting the resolution on the moratorium on capital punishment depended on the outcome of the Council of General Affairs.
APRIL 16, 2007NigeriaDEATH PENALTYthe Presidential Commission on the Administrative Reform...
the Presidential Commission on the Administrative Reform...
APRIL 14, 2007RwandaDEATH PENALTYRWANDA. PRESIDENT KAGAME AND FORMER EU ENVOY DISCUSS DEATH PENALTY
the former European Union Special Representative for the Great Lakes Region, Mr
APRIL 13, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYDEATH PENALTY: DECISION BY ITALIAN COUNCIL OF MINISTERS. BONINO DISSENTS
the Italian Minister of the European Policies Emma Bonino told Radio Radicale she is
- APRIL 10, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
MORATORIUM. MINISTER BONINO SAYS NECESSARY TO GO ON EVEN WITHOUT UNANIMITY
discussing the initiative for the UN moratorium on capital punishment, the Italian
APRIL 8, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYDEATH PENALTY. D'ALEMA GIVES FULL SUPPORT TO BATTLE FOR MORATORIUM
the Italian deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary, Massimo D'Alema, gave his
- APRIL 4, 2007VirginiaDEATH PENALTY
the Republican-controlled General Assembly defied Gov. Timothy...
the Republican-controlled General Assembly defied Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) in voting overwhelmingly to expand the death penalty to include the murders of judges and witnesses in criminal cases.
APRIL 4, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYITALY. EASTER MARCH IN SUPPORT OF MORATORIUM OF EXECUTIONS TO BE ADOPTED BY THE UN
Hands off Cain and the Nonviolent Transnational Radical Party, with the patronage of the Mayor of Rome, and the National Association of Municipalities promote, together with the Comunità di Sant'Egidio, a march in support of a moratorium of capital execut
MARCH 29, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYITALIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS WORKING TOWARDS PRESENTING RESOLUTION TO UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Pasquale Ferrara, Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesman, clarified statements made today at the weekly press meeting. “Italy is working intensely to define the instruments and the methods needed to successfully present the moratorium on the death
MARCH 21, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYMORATORIUM. PANNELLA RESUMES HUNGER STRIKE AS OF TONIGHT
Marco Pannella has announced he will resume his hunger strike to get European Governments to honour the solemn and repeated commitments they have made regarding the moratorium on the death penalty.
- MARCH 15, 2007MarylandDEATH PENALTY
a bill to repeal Maryland’s death penalty failed to get enough...
a bill to repeal Maryland’s death penalty failed to get enough...
MARCH 12, 2007KazakhstanDEATH PENALTYKAZAKHSTAN. HANDS OFF CAIN AT THE ROUND TABLE ON DEATH PENALTY, MORATORIUM AND INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
The Round Table “Abolition of Death Penalty, UN World Moratorium and Accession to the International
MARCH 7, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYITALIAN SENATE APPROVED FULL ABOLITION OF THE DEATH PENALTY FROM ITS CONSTITUTION
the Italian Senate approved a draft law to modify article 27 of the Constitution (226 votes in favour, 12 abstained and no votes contrary). The law is designed to abolish the death penalty also from wartime military laws.
MARCH 1, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYITALY. D'ELIA, CONFIDENCE IN GOVERNMENT DEPENDS ON COMMITMENT TO MORATORIUM
“Our confidence in the Government depends on their commitment to take the proposed Universal Moratorium on Capital Punishment to the UN,” Sergio D'Elia, the radical Rosa nel Pugno MP, stated today in the House debate on the vote of confidence.
- FEBRUARY 27, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
MORATORIUM. PRODI: THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT PROMOTES CIVILITY
The Italian Prime Minister, Romano Prodi, told the Senate: “Recently we have engaged in a significant battle against the death penalty.
FEBRUARY 23, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYMORATORIUM. AL-KALIFA (UN): I WILL WORK TOWARDS CONSENSUS ON ITALY'S INITIATIVE
Sheika Haya Rashed al-Kalifa, president of the UN General Assembly, has confirmed her commitment to ensure Italy's initiative for the universal moratorium on capital punishment is successful. At the end of a
FEBRUARY 21, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYMORATORIUM. D'ALEMA SAYS THEY ARE WORKING TOWARDS A VOTE AT THE UN SOON
Italy is "working hard, within the shortest period of time, to hold a debate and a vote at the UN General Assembly on the proposal for the universal moratorium on capital punishment", Italy's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Massimo D'Alema, announced in the
FEBRUARY 12, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYDEATH PENALTY. RUSSIA SIGNS THE DECLARATION ON THE MORATORIUM
Russia has signed the "Declaration of Association" on the death penalty that was presented to the UN by the
FEBRUARY 3, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTYU.S. EXECUTIONS UNDER RENEWED SCRUTINY
the death penalty is under what may be an unprecedented review in the United States, mostly involving
FEBRUARY 3, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYDEATH PENALTY. CAPPATO, 'POSITIVE COMMITENT ON MORATORIUM TAKEN BY WORLD CONGRESS IN PARIS'
“The World Congress Against Death Penalty - in its 3-day Paris assembly which we attended as Hands Off Cain and Nonviolent Radial Party with Marco Pannella, Elisabetta Zamparutti, Marco Perduca, Antonio Stango and Max Rizzo - will end with a demonstration
FEBRUARY 1, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYEP CALLS FOR UNIVERSAL MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY
the European Parliament adopted a joint resolution in favour of a universal moratorium on the death penalty, with 591 votes in favour, 45 against and 31 abstentions.
FEBRUARY 1, 2007DenmarkDEATH PENALTYDENMARK. FOREIGN MINISTER: NOT OPPOSED TO DEATH PENALTY BAN
The foreign minister denies reports that Denmark opposed an Italian initiative to ban capital punishment
- JANUARY 29, 2007New YorkDEATH PENALTY
a federal jury sentenced Ronell Wilson...
a federal jury sentenced Ronell Wilson...
JANUARY 29, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYDEATH PENALTY. ITALY APPEALS TO AU TO HELP IMPLEMENT MORATORIUM
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi appealed to African leaders to help Italy in its attempt to have capital punishment suspended throghout the world. "We have to be pro life and against death in the same way that we are against injustice and suffering,"
- JANUARY 25, 2007North CarolinaDEATH PENALTY
NORTH CAROLINA. JUDGE BLOCKS EXECUTIONS
Superior Court Judge Donald W. Stephens in Raleigh blocked two executions, creating a de facto moratorium on capital punishment in the state until it changes its lethal injection procedure.
JANUARY 24, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTYTHE APPEAL BY THE MAYORS OF EUROPE FOR THE MORATORIUM ON THE DEATH PENALTY
so far, 18 Mayors of European capital cities have signed the Mayor of Rome’s appeal to get the International Community to establish a moratorium on the death penalty as soon as possible, with the ultimate goal being its complete abolition.
- JANUARY 24, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
DEATH PENALTY. THE RADICALS THANK MAYOR VELTRONI
Minister Emma Bonino, the directors of Hands Off Cain Marco Pannella, Sergio D'Elia and Elisabetta