48th UPR Session Highlights Growing Calls for Death Penalty Reform
The 48th session of the United Nations’ Universal Periodic Review (UPR) took place from the 20th to the 31st of January 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland. It showcased the increasing international focus on the death penalty, with a significant number of recommendations for The Gambia, Fiji, Iran, Iraq, and Egypt.
Gambia: Hope for a Constitutional Review Toward Abolition
Out of the eleven countries recommending the abolition of the death penalty in Gambia, five recognized the ongoing efforts of the country currently engaged in a constitutional and legal reform process. With a view to abolishing capital punishment, the Draft Constitution is currently before the National Assembly.
Fiji: Call to Ratify OP2-ICCPR
The country, which has abolished the death penalty for all crime in 2015 and has been a target country for the World Coalition’s ratification campaign, received 6 recommendations from countries like Chile, Iceland and Mongolia to ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (OP2-ICCPR). Fiji has also expressed it would welcome a visit from the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers.
Iran: A noticeable increase of death penalty-related recommendations since the last cycle
During the 3rd cycle, 39 countries issued 40 recommendations. This cycle around, 46 countries issued 52 recommendations. Additionally, a dozen of them centered specifically juvenile offenders like Belgium’s recommendation to “adopt a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty at least for crimes committed by persons under 18, in accordance with Iran’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child”.
Iraq: The Push for Public Debate on the Death Penalty
Iraq’s UPR review saw a continued focus on the death penalty as demonstrated by the 31 related recommendations issued this cycle, which is close to the number of recommendations issued during the last cycle. An emphasis on promoting public discourse and awareness can be observed, as illustrated by Lithuania’s recommendation to “Promote public debate and public awareness campaigns on the complete abolition of the death penalty.”
Egypt: Encouraging Gradual Reform
In addition to calls to abolish the death penalty and ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Egypt received 31 recommendations suggesting a gradual approach. During the 3rd cycle, Egypt had received 28 death penalty-related recommendations. For example, Guinea recommended to “continue efforts to review the framework of crimes punishable by death in line with the objectives of the National Human Rights Strategy.” Similarly, Chile suggested Egypt to “reduce the number of crimes punishable by death and encourage public debate on its moratorium.”
The Gambia, Fiji, Iran, Iraq, and Egypt have until the next Human Rights Council session in June-July 2025 to indicate if they accept or “note” these recommendations.
