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
- JANUARY 23, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER DEFENDS EXECUTIONS
following talks with his Italian counterpart, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari defended the execution of Saddam Hussein and other former Iraqi officials, which prompted Italy to lead a push for a worldwide moratorium against the death penalty.
- JANUARY 17, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
VELTRONI WANTS SUPPORT OF EUROPEAN MAYORS FOR MORATORIUM AGAINST DEATH PENALTY
“I want to convince the Mayors of all European cities to take a stand and keep up the battle against the death penalty,” Walter Veltroni, the Mayor of Rome, said.
- JANUARY 16, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
WRITTEN DECLARATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT FOR A UNIVERSAL MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS
the leaders of all political groups of the European Parliament, with the exception of the extreme right, have signed a declaration for a universal moratorium on capital punishment in view of its abolition.
- JANUARY 15, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
IRAQ. D'ELIA: ANOTHER CONTRIBUTION TO THE ESCALATION OF VIOLENCE, UN MORATORIUM NEEDED IMMEDIATELY
Sergio D'Elia, Secretary of Hands Off Cain
- JANUARY 12, 2007GeorgiaDEATH PENALTY
ABKHAZIA IMPOSES PARTIAL MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY
the Parliament of breakaway Abkhazia approved a draft law imposing a moratorium on death penalty, Apsnypress news agency reported.
- JANUARY 10, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
MORATORIUM. SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL BACKS ITALIAN INITIATIVE
main opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) leader George Papandreou had a telephone
- JANUARY 9, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
COUNCIL OF EUROPE BACKS ITALY’S CALLS FOR MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS
Italy and the Council of Europe are working together to gather as much support as possible for a United Nations General Assembly based initiative for a worldwide moratorium on executions with view to full abolition of the death penalty.
- JANUARY 8, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALIAN GOVERNMENT MUST GO AHEAD WITH MORATORIUM INITIATIVE, BONINO
“Pannella’s initiative, taken on by the government and by [Foreign] Minister D’Alema, must find a way to carry on,” said Emma Bonino, Italian Minister for European Policies and International Trade, commenting on the initiative for a universal moratorium o
- JANUARY 4, 2007GreeceDEATH PENALTY
GREECE BACKS ABOLITION OF DEATH PENALTY
Athens praised an initiative by the Italian government, within the United Nations framework, to abolish the death penalty around the world.
- JANUARY 4, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
USA: ‘NEW HOPE FOR THE BARBARITY TO END’ SAYS NEW YORK EX GOVERNOR
“The Italian act is beautiful and noble. It showed courage and was the right thing to do, even if noone else supports it. The request for a UN moratorium on the death penalty gives hope to millions of people around the world who, like me, want the barbari
- JANUARY 3, 2007DEATH PENALTY
MORATORIUM ON CAPITAL EXECUTIONS, NOW
Radical Party leader and European Parliamentarian Marco Pannella, also President of Hands Off Cain, completed eight days of a total hunger and thirst strike. On January 3, 2007, he discontinued the thirst strike for 24-48 hours in order continue with the
- JANUARY 3, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
ITALIA. MASTELLA WILL PROPOSE MORATORIUM TO EU MINISTERS
Justice Minister Clemente Mastella wants to bring the important issue of the death penalty to the attention of the European Union.
- JANUARY 2, 2007DEATH PENALTY
ITALY. RADICAL PARTY ASKS FOR FORMAL COMMITMENT
on the nonviolent initiative undertaken by Marco Pannella...
- JANUARY 1, 2007RussiaDEATH PENALTY
Russia is committed to abolishing the death penalty as a member of the Council of Europe
Russia is committed to abolishing the death penalty as a member of the Council of Europe
- JANUARY 1, 2007MoldovaDEATH PENALTY
Moldova abolished the death penalty for all crimes in December 1995...
Moldova abolished the death penalty for all crimes in December 1995 but the Constitution retains it for crimes committed during war or with an inevitable threat of war.
- JANUARY 1, 2007ItalyDEATH PENALTY
Italy became totally abolitionist in 1994, when the death penalty was abolished from the Military Codes.
Italy became totally abolitionist in 1994, when the death penalty was abolished from the Military Codes.
- JANUARY 1, 2007GeorgiaDEATH PENALTY
Georgia abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1997.
Georgia abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1997.
- JANUARY 1, 2007LiberiaDEATH PENALTY
Liberian law includes the possibility of the death penalty.
Liberian law includes the possibility of the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2007PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
On June 24, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed a law abolishing the death penalty.
On June 24, 2006, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed a law abolishing the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2007KyrgyzstanDEATH PENALTY
On June 27, 2007 Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev...
On June 27, 2007 Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev signed legislation amending Kyrgyzstan's criminal codes and abolishing the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2007United StatesDEATH PENALTY
Of the 50 states that make up the United States of America, 38 have the death penalty.
Of the 50 states that make up the United States of America, 38 have the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2007IllinoisDEATH PENALTY
The method of execution is injection.
The method of execution is injection.
- JANUARY 1, 2007New JerseyDEATH PENALTY
The method of execution is injection.
The method of execution is injection.
- JANUARY 1, 2007North CarolinaDEATH PENALTY
The method of execution is injection.
The method of execution is injection.
- JANUARY 1, 2007South AfricaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in South Africa on June 6...
The death penalty was abolished in South Africa on June 6...
- JANUARY 1, 2007BrazilDEATH PENALTY
D'ALEMA MEETS LULA IN BRASIL: UN MORATORIUM A BATTLE THAT CONTINUES
The fight for the UN moratorium against the death penalty "is an ongoing one," said Massimo D'Alema, Foriegn Minister on Tg 1. D’Alema is in Brasil for talks with re-elected president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
- DECEMBER 27, 2006IraqDEATH PENALTY
FIDH ASKS NOT TO EXECUTE SADDAM
the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) has asked Mr. Jalal Talabani, President of Iraq and the Iraqi Government not to ratify the Appeals Court’s decision to execute Saddam Hussein and requested a moratorium on the death penalty in Iraq.
- DECEMBER 20, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
EU. DEATH PENALTY DECLARATION PRESENTED AT UNGA
a declaration on the death penalty was presented at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The declaration was prepared by the EU on Italy’s initiative and was undersigned by 85 UN member states.
- DECEMBER 20, 2006ItalyDEATH PENALTY
HOC. EU DECLARATION UNSATISFACTORY
on the presentation by the EU of the Declaration on the death penalty at the United Nations General Assembly, Secretary of Hands Off Cain Sergio D’Elia and Treasurer Elisabetta Zamparutti made the following declaration:
- DECEMBER 8, 2006RussiaDEATH PENALTY
RUSSIAN LAWMAKERS MOVE TO EXTEND MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY
Russia’s Parliament extended a 10-year moratorium on the death penalty to 2010, an extension of three years, by delaying the introduction of juries in court cases in the rebellious republic of Chechnya.