All about Intellectual Disability
20 element(s) found

Article(s)
For a world free from the shadows of the gallows
By World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, on 14 April 2025
On 8 April 2025, Amnesty International published its annual report on the state of the death penalty worldwide. Amnesty International’s monitoring shows that with continued advocacy, it is just a matter of time before the death penalty will be fully abolished globally.
2025
China
Clemency
Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment and Punishment
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
Gender
Innocence
Intellectual Disability
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Iraq
Japan
Malaysia
Mental Illness
Moratorium
Saudi Arabia
Terrorism
Trend Towards Abolition
United States
Viet Nam
Women
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Document(s)
Death sentences and executions in 2024
By Amnesty International, on 8 April 2025
2025
NGO report
Clemency
Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment and Punishment
Gender
Innocence
Intellectual Disability
Mental Illness
Moratorium
Terrorism
Trend Towards Abolition
Women
aresfafrMore details See the document
This report covers the judicial use of the death penalty for the period January to December 2024. Amnesty International’s monitoring shows an increase by 32% in recorded executions compared to 2023. This does not include the thousands of people believed to have been executed in China, as well as in North Korea and Viet Nam, also believed to have resorted to executions extensively. For the second consecutive year, executing countries reached the lowest number on record.
- Document type NGO report
- Themes list Clemency / Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment and Punishment / Gender / Innocence / Intellectual Disability / Mental Illness / Moratorium / Terrorism / Trend Towards Abolition / Women
- Available languages أحكام وعمليات الإعدام2024 فيCondenas a muerte y ejecuciones 2024مجازات اعدام در خاورمیانه و آفریقای شمالی ۲۰۲۴Condamnations à mort et exécutions 2024
Document(s)
From poverty to punishment: Examining laws and practices which criminalise women due to poverty or status worldwide
By Penal Reform International, Women Beyond Walls, on 17 March 2025
2025
NGO report
Death Row Conditions
Drug Offenses
Fair Trial
Gender
Intellectual Disability
Legal Representation
Mental Illness
Murder Victims' Families
Trend Towards Abolition
Women
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The report exposes how laws and policies disproportionately criminalise women due to their socio-economic status and vulnerabilities, and calls for urgent reforms to stop the criminalisation of women for poverty, survival strategies and gendered norms.
- Document type NGO report
- Themes list Death Row Conditions / Drug Offenses / Fair Trial / Gender / Intellectual Disability / Legal Representation / Mental Illness / Murder Victims' Families / Trend Towards Abolition / Women
Document(s)
Annual Report on the Death Penalty in Iran 2024
on 20 February 2025
2025
NGO report
Clemency
Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment and Punishment
Drug Offenses
Fair Trial
Gender
Intellectual Disability
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Juveniles
Legal Representation
Mental Illness
Murder Victims' Families
Women
fafrMore details See the document
The Report provides an in-depth analysis of death penalty trends in Iran 2024. It covers execution statistics, legislative frameworks, and the abolitionist movement, offering insights on how the international community can help reduce executions.
- Document type NGO report
- Countries list Iran (Islamic Republic of)
- Themes list Clemency / Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment and Punishment / Drug Offenses / Fair Trial / Gender / Intellectual Disability / Juveniles / Legal Representation / Mental Illness / Murder Victims' Families / Women
- Available languages گزارش سالانه اعدام در ایران؛ ۲۰۲۴Rapport annuel sur la peine de mort en Iran
Document(s)
Texas Death Penalty Developments in 2024: The Year in Review
on 19 December 2024
2024
NGO report
Clemency
Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment and Punishment
Death Row Conditions
Fair Trial
Innocence
Intellectual Disability
Legal Representation
Mental Illness
Moratorium
Trend Towards Abolition
United States
More details See the document
This report examines important developments regarding the death penalty in Texas in 2024, highlighting cases of individuals convicted despite evidence of innocence, racial and geographic disparities, and issues related to lethal injections.
- Document type NGO report
- Countries list United States
- Themes list Clemency / Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment and Punishment / Death Row Conditions / Fair Trial / Innocence / Intellectual Disability / Legal Representation / Mental Illness / Moratorium / Trend Towards Abolition
Document(s)
World Psychiatric Association position statement mental health and the death penalty
By World Psychiatric Association, on 30 November 2023
2023
Arguments against the death penalty
Fair Trial
Intellectual Disability
zh-hantMore details See the document
International law and laws of various countries prohibit the imposition of the death penalty on persons
with mental illness or developmental and intellectual disabilities due to the special barriers faced by
them in defending themselves; their limited moral culpability; and their diminished ability to
understand the nature and reason for their execution. However, due to lack of accommodations in
criminal proceedings and legal safeguards, persons with mental illness, developmental and intellectual
disabilities are at a greater risk of being sentenced to death and having their fair trial rights denied.
Authors:
Maitreyi Misra, Director (Mental Health and Criminal Justice), Project 39A, National Law University
Delhi.
Namrata Sinha, Research Associate (Mental Health and Criminal Justice), Project 39A, National Law
University Delhi.
Neeraj Gill, Professor, Health Research Institute, University of Canberra and Griffith University,
School of Medicine, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia.
Soumitra Pathare, Consultant Psychiatrist, Director, Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy, ILS
Law College, Pune.
Afzal Javed, President, World Psychiatric Association.
- Document type Arguments against the death penalty
- Themes list Fair Trial / Intellectual Disability
- Available languages 世界精神醫學會針對精神健康與死刑之立場聲明

Article(s)
Pakistan’s Supreme Court Repeals Death Penalty for people with intellectual disability
By Louis Linel, on 10 February 2021
By commuting two death sentences, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ruled that capital punishment cannot be carried out to people with serious mental health issues.
2021
Intellectual Disability
Pakistan

Article(s)
Recent US Federal Executions Raise Ethical and Political Issues
By Louis Linel, on 2 September 2020
Two more federal executions were carried out at the end of August in the United States of America. The abolitionist movement in the United States denounces human rights violations, challenges the cost of the death penalty in this time of crisis and even opposes its disrespect for tribal sovereignity.
2020
Fair Trial
Intellectual Disability
Public Opinion
United States

Article(s)
Expanded Ban on Death Penalty for Intellectually Disabled People in California
By Louis Linel, on 1 September 2020
The California State Legislature extended the ban on capital punishment for intellectually disabled people
2020
Intellectual Disability
United States

Article(s)
World Coalition members share knowledge on UN advocacy
By Asil Abuassba (The Advocates for Human Rights), on 19 February 2015
Asil Abuassba, a Palestinian intern with World Coalition member organisation The Advocates for Human Rights, attended a training session to help global activists submit reports on the death penalty situation in their countries to UN bodies.
2015
Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment and Punishment
Death Row Conditions
Fair Trial
Innocence
Intellectual Disability
Juveniles
Mental Illness

Article(s)
Fewest death sentences in 40 years in the US
By Death Penalty Information Center, on 12 January 2015
The number of executions in the United States was at its lowest in 20 years and seven death row prisoners were exonerated in 2014.
2015
Intellectual Disability
Mental Illness
United States

Article(s)
Dialogue should make death penalty “a sentence of the past” – foreign ministers
By World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, on 9 October 2014
Twelve governments from countries with and without capital punishment release a joint declaration calling for a world that “respects human dignity” on World Day Against the Death Penalty.
2014
Argentina
Australia
Benin
Burkina Faso
Haiti
Intellectual Disability
Mental Illness
Mexico
Mongolia
Norway
Philippines
Switzerland
Turkey
United Kingdom

Article(s)
Death penalty systems disregard mental health – experts
By Thomas Hubert, on 25 September 2014
Despite international and national standards banning the use of capital punishment against mental ill or intellectually disabled people, health professionals familiar with death row say it is full of prisoners who should instead be receiving treatment.
2014
Intellectual Disability
Mental Illness
United States

Article(s)
ECPM takes social media campaign to the fair ground
By Bronwyn Dudley, on 16 September 2014
World Coalition member organisation Ensemble contre la peine de mort (ECPM) was at September’s Fête de l’Humanité in Paris to spread awareness of the 12th World Day Against the Death Penalty on October 10.
2014
France
Intellectual Disability
Mental Illness

Article(s)
Calendar of events for World Day 2014
By World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, on 19 August 2014
On 10 October 2014, the 12th World Day Against the Death Penalty is drawing attention to people with mental health problems who are at risk of a death sentence or execution. Browse the schedule and the map to prepare and promote the events planned around the world on the big day.
2014
Intellectual Disability
Mental Illness

Article(s)
Improved access to unique global death penalty library
By Thomas Hubert, on 10 July 2014
The World Coalition has redesigned its online library to help visitors find the documents they need in its multilingual database of resources and campaigning tools on capital punishment.
2014
Clemency
Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment and Punishment
Death Row Conditions
Drug Offenses
Fair Trial
Innocence
Intellectual Disability
Juveniles
Legal Representation
Mental Illness
Moratorium
Murder Victims' Families
Public Opinion
Terrorism
Women

Article(s)
Indian ruling highlights importance of next World Day
By Emile Carreau, on 3 February 2014
On 21 January, India’s Supreme Court formally banned the execution of mentally ill prisoners and in doing so highlighted why this year’s World Day against the Death Penalty, which is dedicated to issues of mental health, is so important.
2014
India
Intellectual Disability
Mental Illness

Article(s)
Call to end flawed Caribbean death penalty
By Thomas Hubert, on 10 December 2012
An appeal signed by local organizations and a new report by Amnesty International denounce multiple human rights violations in the use of capital punishment in the region and ask governments to “remove the death penalty once and for all from the law books”.
2012
Antigua and Barbuda
Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Dominica
Fair Trial
Grenada
Guyana
Intellectual Disability
Jamaica
Mental Illness
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago

Article(s)
Japan’s death penalty under scrutiny
By The Advocates for Human Rights, on 5 November 2012
After a high-level conference on the abolition of the death penalty in Tokyo on October 29th, the United Nations’ Human Rights Council examined Japan’s record on October 31st as part of the Universal Periodic Review, a worldwide mechanism to monitor the enforcement of human rights. Major Japanese infringements concern the use of the death penalty.
2012
Clemency
Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment and Punishment
Death Row Conditions
Fair Trial
Intellectual Disability
Japan
Legal Representation
Mental Illness

Article(s)
A challenge to the abolitionist movement
By Sandra Babcock, on 16 December 2011
Over the last few decades, we have made great strides toward the universal abolition of the death penalty. Nevertheless, despite the progress we have made, the death penalty remains entrenched in a significant number of states. And even in those nations that have refrained from carrying out executions in a sort of de facto moratorium, […]
2011
Intellectual Disability
Malawi
Mental Illness
Mexico
Moratorium
United States

China
RetentionistDeath penalty legal status
Countries
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
RetentionistDeath penalty legal status
Countries
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
RetentionistDeath penalty legal status
Countries
Iraq
RetentionistDeath penalty legal status
Countries
Japan
RetentionistDeath penalty legal status
Countries
Malaysia
RetentionistDeath penalty legal status
Countries
Saudi Arabia
RetentionistDeath penalty legal status
Countries
United States
RetentionistDeath penalty legal status
Countries
Viet Nam
RetentionistDeath penalty legal status
Countries
Zambia
Abolitionist for ordinary crimes onlyDeath penalty legal status
Countries
Zimbabwe
Abolitionist for all crimesDeath penalty legal status
Countries