10th anniversary of World Day against the Death Penalty
World Day
On October 10, the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty and abolitionists worldwide will celebrate the 10th anniversary of World Day against the Death Penalty.
This year’s World Day focuses on the achievements and progress made toward abolition. Around the world, countries have ended or restricted their use of the death penalty.
In addition, they have signified their support of ending this practice by ratifying the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty and by voting in favor of United Nations (UN) resolutions for a moratorium on the death penalty. The World Coalition welcomes these steps forward as it also remains vigilant for the challenges ahead.
Significant progress on the road to end the death penalty has been made over the past 10 years. Since 2002, 21 countries have abolished the death penalty for all crimes (Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Bhutan, Burundi, Cook Islands, Cyprus, Gabon, Greece, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Mexico, Montenegro, the Philippines, Rwanda, Samoa, Senegal, Serbia, Togo, Turkey and Uzbekistan).
Global momentum continues to build toward complete abolition
The last decade has seen a large increase in countries that have officially abolished the use of the death
penalty, have eliminated the use of the death penalty in practice, or have restricted its application:
141 countries are abolitionist in law or in practice;
97 countries have abolished the death penalty for all crimes;
8 countries have abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes; and
36 countries have abolished the death penalty in practice.
