Zambia commits to irreversible abolition of the death penalty for all crimes

Good news

By World coalition against the death penalty, on 23 December 2024

Zambia has acceded to the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR, which is the UN treaty aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, on 19 December 2024.

One day after voting for the UNGA moratorium resolution for the first time, the Zambian Minister of Justice deposited the instruments of accession, without reservation, with the UN. 

This comes almost two years after Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema signed into law Penal Code (Amendment) Bill number 25, which banned the death penalty for ordinary crimes.

In accordance with its article 8(2), the Protocol will enter into force for Zambia on 19 March 2025, three months after date of deposition of the accession instruments.

Zambia is the 18^th African state to ratify the OP2-ICCPR, and the second this year, after Cote d’Ivoire. 92 UN Member States, out of the 174 States which are currently parties to the ICCPR, have now joined the Second Optional Protocol and committed to irreversible abolition.

© picture Zambia Foreign Ministry