49th UPR Session Highlights Continued Calls for the Respect of International Human Rights Standards
International standards
The 49th session of the United Nations’ Universal Periodic Review (UPR) session took place from the 28th of April to the 9th of May 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland. It showcased the increasing international push for death penalty reform, with a significant number of recommendations for Grenada, Guyana, Kenya, Kuwait, Laos, Lesotho.
Grenada: Moving Toward The Ratification of OP2
Out of the 18 death penalty-related recommendations received by Grenada, nine of them emphasized the importance of ratifying the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (OP2-ICCPR), highlighting the need to align Grenada’s legal framework with international human rights standards. For instance, Cyprus recommended the country to “abolish the death penalty and replace it with penalties that are consistent with international human rights standards.”
Guyana: Raise Public Awareness and Build Engagement on Abolition
Guyana received 26 recommendations, with a substantial focus on the ratification of OP2 (17 recommendations). This marks a net increase compared to the 18 death-penalty recommendations received during the last cycle, also predominantly recommending to ratify OP2 (10 recommendations). Notable contributions include Togo’s recommendation that Guyana “remove the death penalty from its legislation, including its Constitution, and [carry out] awareness-raising activities to mobilize public opinion in favor of the abolition of the death penalty.” Other countries, such as Argentina and Ukraine, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the importance of public engagement as a vital step toward the eventual abolition of capital punishment.
Kenya: Reforming Domestic Law
Kenya received 27 recommendations related to the death penalty, and 14 of them were related to the ratification of OP2. Several recommendations focused on amending domestic law to formally abolish the death penalty. Indeed, countries such as Estonia and Luxembourg specifically called for Kenya to formally abolish the death penalty by amending the Penal Code, underscoring the urgency for Kenya to align its domestic law with international human rights norms.
Kuwait: The Push for a Moratorium
Kuwait received 29 recommendations, with a significant emphasis on establishing a moratorium on the death penalty. Nineteen recommendations focused on urging Kuwait to take immediate steps toward halting executions. Recommendations ranged from those calling for a de facto moratorium to those advocating for a full abolition of the death penalty. For instance, the United Kingdom recommended that Kuwait “return to a position of non-application of the death penalty,” while Uruguay and the Marshall Islands called for a moratorium on executions as a first step toward abolition.
Lao PDR: Reducing the Scope of the Death Penalty
The Lao People’s Democratic Republic received 23 death penalty recommendations, with a strong emphasis on reducing the number of offences punishable by death. Seven recommendations highlighted the importance of narrowing the scope of capital punishment, with specific calls for the decriminalization of certain offences. Spain, for example, recommended that Lao PDR “definitively abolish the death penalty in line with the existing de facto moratorium,” while Australia called for a reduction in “the number of crimes punishable by death, including drug offences.”
Lesotho: Maintaining a Moratorium While Pursuing Abolition
Lesotho received 13 recommendations, seven of which were related to the ratification of OP2. Slovenia and Spain called for the country to continue to maintain the current de facto moratorium on executions while taking steps toward the formal abolition of the death penalty. These recommendations reflect the international community’s support for Lesotho’s current stance while encouraging the country to formalize its commitment to international human rights standards.
