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
- JANUARY 1, 2004KyrgyzstanDEATH PENALTY
Kyrgyzstan's President Askar Akayev extended the moratorium...
Kyrgyzstan's President Askar Akayev extended the moratorium on the use of the death penalty until the end of 2004
- DECEMBER 22, 2003United NationsDEATH PENALTY
In view of a resolution approved on 22 December 2003...
In view of a resolution approved on 22 December 2003 on the human rights situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the Third Committee of the 58th General Assembly asked the country, with two ad hoc paragraphs, to re-impose a moratorium on exe
- DECEMBER 18, 2003KazakhstanDEATH PENALTY
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed a death...
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev signed a death penalty moratorium, deputy head of the presidential administration in charge of the state and legal department Igor Rogov said at a briefing in Astana
- DECEMBER 11, 2003RussiaDEATH PENALTY
Ella Pamfilova, head of the presidential human rights...
Ella Pamfilova, head of the presidential human rights commission, declared her opposition to lifting Russia's moratorium on capital punishment
- DECEMBER 6, 2003PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
Only convicted kidnappers, and not all death row convicts...
Only convicted kidnappers, and not all death row convicts such as rapists or drug dealers, were subject to public execution, Philippine President Malacanang said
- DECEMBER 5, 2003PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
Philippine President Gloria Arroyo lifted a nearly...
Philippine President Gloria Arroyo lifted a nearly four-year moratorium on the death penalty following intense pressure from anti-crime groups and businesses over increasing kidnappings and violence
- NOVEMBER 30, 2003ItalyDEATH PENALTY
HOC REITERATES THE NEED FOR A MORATORIUM NOW AT NOBEL SUMMIT
November 30, 2003: “We need to transform a slow historical process into political terms and time frames,” HOC General Secretary Sergio D’Elia said during of the fourth world summit of the Nobel Peace Laureates.
- NOVEMBER 28, 2003PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) asked President...
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) asked President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to lift the moratorium on the execution of death row convicts
- NOVEMBER 21, 2003PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
Sen. Robert Barbers urged Philippine President Arroyo...
Sen. Robert Barbers urged Philippine President Arroyo to lift the moratorium on the implementation of the death penalty following the increasing cases of heinous crimes, particularly illegal drugs and kidnapping for ransom. "I call on the President to lif
- NOVEMBER 14, 2003ItalyDEATH PENALTY
"Notwithstanding the fact that it had backing from...
"Notwithstanding the fact that it had backing from both the Italian and European Parliaments, together with requests from civil society, including firstly Hands Off Cain, the Italian Government registered its umpteenth failure"
- NOVEMBER 12, 2003ItalyDEATH PENALTY
Italian undersecretary for Foreign Affairs Margherita...
Italian undersecretary for Foreign Affairs Margherita Bonniver, speaking on at the senate's human rights commission to explain the government's decision for the non presentation of a resolution for a universal moratorium on capital executions at the ongoi
- NOVEMBER 6, 2003ItalyDEATH PENALTY
HOC president Marco Pannella MEP, criticised the centre-right...
HOC president Marco Pannella MEP, criticised the centre-right Casa delle Liberta, or House of Freedoms, majority in Parliament for the "compact vote" that failed to commit the government to present to the UN General Assembly currently in session a resolut
- NOVEMBER 6, 2003ItalyDEATH PENALTY
The Italian Chamber of Representatives approved two...
The Italian Chamber of Representatives approved two motions presented by government MPs that generically require the government to "despite the verified lack of consensus currently at a European level, continue in every forum the intensive political and d
- NOVEMBER 3, 2003ItalyDEATH PENALTY
The Italian Chamber of Representatives opened the debate...
The Italian Chamber of Representatives opened the debate on four motions regarding the presentation of a resolution calling for a worldwide moratorium on executions at the ongoing UN General Assembly by the Italian EU presidency
- OCTOBER 22, 2003European UnionDEATH PENALTY
The European Parliament opened the debate on a new...
The European Parliament opened the debate on a new motion calling on the Italian presidency to present at the ongoing UN General Assembly in New York a resolution for a worldwide moratorium on executions
- OCTOBER 21, 2003ItalyDEATH PENALTY
In the Italian Chamber Alleanza Nazionale MP Andrea...
In the Italian Chamber Alleanza Nazionale MP Andrea Ronchi tabled a motion calling on the government to "continue its diplomatic and political action to take definitive steps towards the presentation and adoption by the ongoing General Assembly of a resol
- OCTOBER 16, 2003ItalyDEATH PENALTY
HOC's General-Secretary Sergio D'Elia slammed the reply...
HOC's General-Secretary Sergio D'Elia slammed the reply given by state Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs Margherita Boniver in reply to the parliamentary questions tabled in the Italian Senate by Ottaviano Del Turco and in the Chamber by Enrico Buemi wi
- OCTOBER 15, 2003ItalyDEATH PENALTY
Italian Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs Margherita...
Italian Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs Margherita Boniver, speaking on behalf of the government, replied to a parliamentary question tabled in the Italian Senate by Ottaviano Del Turco with regard to the progress of the Italian EU presidency's initia
- OCTOBER 15, 2003ItalyDEATH PENALTY
Around 50 MPs led by Enrico Buemi (SDI) tabled a motion...
Around 50 MPs led by Enrico Buemi (SDI) tabled a motion in the Italian Chamber of Deputies calling for a commitment by the Italian government to "take the final steps - at this point urgent and necessary - towards the presentation and adoption by the ongo
- OCTOBER 13, 2003IranDEATH PENALTY
The European Union issued a blistering attack on Iran's...
The European Union issued a blistering attack on Iran's human rights record but stopped short from agreeing to table or co-sponsor a United Nations General Assembly resolution that would single out Iran for its human rights violations
- OCTOBER 8, 2003ItalyDEATH PENALTY
Enrico Buemi, MP (SDI - Italian Social Democrats) and...
Enrico Buemi, MP (SDI - Italian Social Democrats) and Hands Off Cain member, deposited an urgent parliamentary question at the Chamber of Deputies, addressed to Foreign Minister Frattini and signed by 50 MPs from all sides, asking the government to inform
- OCTOBER 6, 2003European UnionDEATH PENALTY
At a press briefing in Brussels given to promote "World...
At a press briefing in Brussels given to promote "World Day against the Death Penalty" on October 10, the European Commission reaffirmed its opposition to the death penalty
- OCTOBER 1, 2003PhilippinesDEATH PENALTY
The Philippine government reiterated that it would...
The Philippine government reiterated that it would still resort to capital punishment on " high-profile drug dealers" despite its announcement of a "moratorium on the death penalty" under the Arroyo administration
- OCTOBER 1, 2003ItalyDEATH PENALTY
Ottaviano del Turco, senator for the left-wing SDI...
Ottaviano del Turco, senator for the left-wing SDI (Italian Socialist Democrats) and Hands Off Cain member, tabled a parliamentary question on the presentation of a resolution calling for a worldwide moratorium on executions to the UN General Assembly
- SEPTEMBER 30, 2003BelgiumDEATH PENALTY
HOC MEETS PRODI AND FRATTINI AS EUROPEAN MISSION ENDS
September 30, 2003: the European mission conducted by George Ryan together with Leroy Orange came to an end on Monday in Brussels.
- SEPTEMBER 29, 2003ItalyDEATH PENALTY
The Italian EU Presidency remained committed to the...
The Italian EU Presidency remained committed to the objective of seeing adopted a worldwide moratorium on capital executions, said Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini, speaking in Brussels during a meeting with a Hands Off Cain delegation which inclu
- SEPTEMBER 25, 2003ItalyDEATH PENALTY
The Italian Senate approved a motion asking the government,...
The Italian Senate approved a motion asking the government, representing the EU, to present at the UN a resolution for a universal moratorium on executions
- SEPTEMBER 25, 2003SpainDEATH PENALTY
Former Illinois governor and HOC honorary president...
Former Illinois governor and HOC honorary president George Ryan and former death row inmate Leroy Orange visited the Spanish capital Madrid to promote the campaign for a worldwide moratorium on executions through a UN resolution
- SEPTEMBER 25, 2003ItalyDEATH PENALTY
Former Illinois governor and HOC honorary president...
Former Illinois governor and HOC honorary president George Ryan and former death row inmate Leroy Orange visited the Spanish capital Madrid to promote the campaign for a worldwide moratorium on executions through a UN resolution
- SEPTEMBER 24, 2003ItalyDEATH PENALTY
Saw the commencement in Paris of the European tour...
Saw the commencement in Paris of the European tour conducted by former Governor of Illinois George Ryan and Leroy Orange, the ex death row inmate he pardoned