Gambia commits to full abolition of the death penalty

Good news

By Nicolas Chua, on 26 October 2018

A year prior, on 21 September 2017, Gambia had signed the Second Optional Protocol to the International Convention for Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), during the 72nd General Assembly of the United Nations. Its ratification by Gambia now makes it binding, and comes after a string of execution in 2012, the first in 31st years, which brought a lot of criticism on the West African state.

President Barrow stated that the ratification of the treaty was to reflect on the nation’s willingness to promote democratic values and commitment to “protect lives of political activists”. Gambia has yet to abolish the death penalty in its Criminal Code, but this is undoubtedly a huge step in the right direction.

The Gambia is the 86th country to ratify this Protocol.

Photo credit: Chatham House