All about Public Opinion 

145 element(s) found

Document(s)

The Death Penalty in 2023: Year End Report

By The Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC), on 25 January 2024


2024

NGO report

Public Opinion 

United States


More details See the document

Published on December 01, 2023.

Innocence cases dominated much of the media’s attention on death penalty cases in 2023. While these prisoners were largely unsuccessful in the courts, there was unprecedented support for their claims from state legislators, prosecutors, judges, and other elected officials, some of whom declared themselves newly disillusioned with use of the death penalty in their state. This year is the 9th consecutive year with fewer than 30 people executed (24) and fewer than 50 people sentenced to death (21, as of December 1). The 23 men and one woman who were executed in 2023 were the oldest average age (tied with 2021) and spent the longest average number of years in prison in the modern death penalty era before being executed. As in previous years, most prisoners had significant physical and mental health issues at the time of their executions, some of which can be attributed to the many years they spent in severe isolation on death row. Continued difficulties obtaining lethal injection drugs led some states to explore new, untested methods of execution or revive previously abandoned methods. Other states enacted or continued pauses on executions while the state’s method of execution was studied.

  • Document type NGO report
  • Countries list United States
  • Themes list Public Opinion 

Document(s)

New Research Finds That Historical News Coverage Reduced Executed Black Men to ​“Faceless, Interchangeable Public Safety Hazards” While Executed White Men Were Portrayed As ​“Tragic Heroes”

By The Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC), on 24 January 2024


2024

Article

Public Opinion 

United States


More details See the document

Published on December 12, 2023.

In a recently published academic article, Emory University History Professor Daniel LaChance writes about an important and underrecognized distinction in the way newspaper editors and journalists covered the executions of Black and white men in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Professor LaChance argues that the portrayals of the defendants made legal executions “a high-status punishment that respected the whiteness of those who suffered it.” While the length and detail of articles about the executions of Black men shrank dramatically over time, he notes that journalists consistently highlighted the humanity of white men who were executed, making it “easier for those who wanted to project a modern image of the South to distance capital punishment from lynching, a form of violence that was becoming a source of embarrassment for respectable white Southerners.”

  • Document type Article
  • Countries list United States
  • Themes list Public Opinion 
n July 2023, the World Coalition met with abolitionists from these countries at risk in Malaysia to share strategies and discuss best practices in fighting a return to the death penalty

Article(s)

Démystifier les arguments en faveur du rétablissement de la peine de mort

By Venus Aves, on 13 November 2023

À maintes reprises, les abolitionnistes ont plaidé contre la peine de mort en soulignant son caractère inhumain, inefficace et injuste.

2023

Drug Offenses

Maldives

Philippines

Public Opinion 

Sri Lanka

Turkey

n July 2023, the World Coalition met with abolitionists from these countries at risk in Malaysia to share strategies and discuss best practices in fighting a return to the death penalty

Article(s)

Debunking narratives for a return of the death penalty

By Venus Aves, on 13 November 2023

Time and time again, abolitionists have been making the case against the death penalty, highlighting how inhumane, inefficient and unfair it is.

Drug Offenses

Maldives

Philippines

Public Opinion 

Sri Lanka

Trend Towards Abolition

Turkey

United Nations 46th Human Rights Council

Article(s)

Panel de Haut Niveau de l’ONU sur peine de mort et la limitation aux crimes les plus graves

By Coalition mondiale contre la peine de mort, on 14 March 2023

Le 28 février 2023, le Conseil des droits de l’homme a tenu son panel biennal de haut niveau sur la question de la peine de mort.

2023

Public Opinion 

UN Human Rights Council

Article(s)

UN High Level Panel on the death penalty and limitation to the most serious crimes

By World coalition against the death penalty, on 14 March 2023

On February 28 2023, the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council held its biennial high-level panel on the issue of the death penalty.

Public Opinion 

Document(s)

Deterrence and the Death Penalty Guide

By The Death Penalty Project, on 1 November 2022


2022

NGO report

Public Opinion 


More details See the document

The most common justification for the retention of the death penalty among the minority of states that continue to sentence to death and execute individuals who are found guilty of committing certain serious offences is a belief that this punishment has a unique deterrent effect. The Death Penalty Project produced this resource on deterrence and the death penalty.

  • Document type NGO report
  • Themes list Public Opinion 

Document(s)

Public Opinion and the Death Penalty Guide

By The Death Penalty Project, on 1 November 2022


NGO report

Public Opinion 


More details See the document

When faced with calls to join the majority of states worldwide that have now abolished capital punishment, a key justification, typically relied upon by retentionist states, is that their citizens are not yet ready for abolition, and that political leaders must represent ‘the will of the people.’ The Death Penalty Project produced this resource on public opinion and the death penalty.

  • Document type NGO report
  • Themes list Public Opinion 

Document(s)

The Death Penalty in Kenya: A Punishment that has Died Out in Practice, Part Two – Overwhelming Support for Abolition Among Opinion Leaders

on 15 June 2022


2022

Rapport d’ONG

Kenya

Public Opinion 


More details See the document

In 2021, The Death Penalty Project and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, in partnership with the Australian National University commissioned Prof. Carolyn Hoyle, Director of The Death Penalty Research Unit, at the University of Oxford, to undertake research in order to provide accurate data on attitudes towards the death penalty in Kenya and facilitate a constructive conversation on the future of capital punishment. The research examined the views of both the general public in Kenya and also opinion formers, those considered influential in shaping, and responding to, national views.

Key findings :

– The vast majority of opinion formers that took part in the interviews were in favour of abolishing the death penalty.
– 90% of opinion formers were in favour of abolishing the death penalty
– 82% of opinion formers were strongly in favour of of abolishing the death penalty
– Most of the opinion formers interviewed were very well informed on the administration of the death penalty in Kenya.
– Across both groups there were concerns around the possibility that innocent people could be sentenced to death.
– 88% of opinion formers believe wrongful convictions occur fairly regularly
– 93% of opinion formers thought Kenya should be influenced by high rates of abolition around the world
– Opinion formers believed that 75% of the public would accept abolition of the death penalty, despite initial reservations.

  • Document type Rapport d’ONG
  • Countries list Kenya
  • Themes list Public Opinion 

Document(s)

The Death Penalty in Kenya: A Punishment that has Died Out in Practice, Part One – A Public Ready to Accept Abolition

on 15 June 2022


NGO report

Kenya

Public Opinion 


More details See the document

In 2021, The Death Penalty Project and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, in partnership with the Australian National University commissioned Prof. Carolyn Hoyle, Director of The Death Penalty Research Unit, at the University of Oxford, to undertake research in order to provide accurate data on attitudes towards the death penalty in Kenya and facilitate a constructive conversation on the future of capital punishment. The research examined the views of both the general public in Kenya and also opinion formers, those considered influential in shaping, and responding to, national views.

Key findings:

– 40% in favour of abolishing the death penalty, 10% did not know either way
– 51% in favour of retaining the death penalty, only 32% strongly in favour
– Those against the death penalty believed that criminals deserved the opportunity for rehabilitation.
– Knowledge of the death penalty appears to be limited, just 66% were aware Kenya retains the death penalty and just 21% knew no executions had take place in the past 10 years
– The public expressed concerns around the possibility that innocent people could be sentenced to death: 61% of the public – including retentionists – thought that ‘many’ or ‘some’ innocent people have been sentenced to death in Kenya; only 8% thought that ‘no innocent people have been sentenced to death’
– Public support fell from 51% to 31% when considering abolition in the region
59% of the public, who were initially in favour of retention, said that they would accept a new policy of abolition

  • Document type NGO report
  • Countries list Kenya
  • Themes list Public Opinion 
31st-session-commission-on-crime-prevention-side-event

Article(s)

L’opinion publique en soutien à l’abolition

By Sarah Saint-Sorny, on 10 June 2022

La 31ème Session de la Commission sur la Prévention du Crime et la Justice Criminelle de l’ONUDC s’est tenue à Vienne du 16 au 20 mai 2022. A cette occasion, la Japan Federation of Bar Associations a organisé un évènement parallèle : « Abolir la peine de mort : opinion publique et chemin vers l’abolition », qui s’est tenu […]

2022

France

Japan

Public Opinion 

United States

31st-session-commission-on-crime-prevention-side-event

Article(s)

Public opinion supportive of the abolition

By Sarah Saint-Sorny, on 10 June 2022

The 31st Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice of the ODC took place in Vienna from the 16th to the 20th of May 2022. At this occasion, the Japan Federation of Bar Associations organized a side-event: “Abolishing the Death Penalty: Public Opinion and the Road to Abolition”, which was held online […]

France

Japan

Public Opinion 

United States

Forum Liberia 2022

Article(s)

Liberian Civil Society Organize to Push for Abolition

By Rescue Alternatives Liberia and the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, on 29 April 2022

On 12 April 2022, Rescue Alternatives Liberia (RAL) orchestrated a one-day forum on abolition in Liberia with the support of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty. The outcomes of this event were very promising, and time will tell if abolition in Liberia is near.

2022

Liberia

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Saudi Arabian Mass execution of 81 men

By Anissa Aguedal, World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, on 4 April 2022

Saudi Arabia: the largest mass execution in this country in years The kingdom of Saudi Arabia executed 81 men on March 12, 2022, all of whom had been convicted of a wide range of offences, including “terrorism”- related crimes, murder, armed robbery, and arms smuggling. Those put to death included seven Yemenis, one Syrian and […]

2022

Moratorium

Public Opinion 

Saudi Arabia

Document(s)

Legislators’ Opinions on the Death Penalty in Taiwan

on 24 March 2022


2022

NGO report

Public Opinion 

Taiwan

zh-hant
More details See the document

In 2021, The Death Penalty Project and the Taiwan Alliance to End the Death Penalty (TAEDP) commissioned Professor Carolyn Hoyle at the University of Oxford and Professor Shiow-duan Hawang at Soochow University, Taipei to carry out a study exploring Taiwanese legislators’ attitudes towards capital punishment.

The study reveals that the majority of Taiwan’s legislators would like to see the death penalty abolished. The risk of wrongful convictions, the abuse of human rights and a recognition that the death penalty has no unique deterrent effect, were the primary reasons cited for supporting abolition. Additionally, a majority of legislators interviewed expressed fairly low levels of trust in the Taiwanese criminal justice system, with doubts raised over its ability to offer adequate safeguards to individuals facing capital trials.

Key findings:

– 61% of legislators interviewed are in favour of abolishing the death penalty
– 39% of legislators interviewed are in favour of retaining the death penalty, but only one legislator was strongly in favour
– 71% of retentionists and 65% of abolitionists asserted that wrongful convictions ‘sometimes’ occurred
– Only 11% of legislators interviewed thought that wrongful convictions ‘rarely’ occur
– All legislators interviewed expressed a preference for social justice measures, such as poverty reduction, over increased executions when asked to rank a range of policies aimed at reducing violent crime

Document(s)

2021 OHCHR Report on Deterrence: High-level panel discussion on the question of the death penalty

By Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), on 14 January 2022


2022

United Nations report

Public Opinion 

aresfrruzh-hant
More details See the document

The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolutions 26/2 and 42/24. It provides a summary of the high-level panel discussion on the question of the death penalty held on 23 February 2021 at the forty-sixth session of the Council. The panel discussion addressed the human rights violations related to the use of the death penalty, in particular with respect to whether the use of the death penalty has a deterrent effect on crime rates.

Article(s)

Executions and Death Sentences Near Record Lows in 2021 in the USA

By Death Penalty Information Center, on 13 January 2022

Virginia’s historic abolition of the death penalty highlighted a year in which public opinion polls, executions, and new death sentences all signaled continued erosion of support for capital punishment across the United States.

2022

Public Opinion 

United States

Capitalization workshop of the project for the abolition in Africa

Article(s)

Capitalization workshop of the project for the abolition of the death penalty in sub-Saharan Africa

By Elise Garel, on 4 January 2022

Member organizations of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty and African ACATs (Action des Chrétiens pour l’Abolition de la Torture) met in Abidjan (Côte d’Ivoire) for the capitalization workshop of Phase 2 of the project for the abolition of the death penalty in sub-Saharan Africa, organized on 29 and 30 November by the World […]

2022

Côte d'Ivoire

Moratorium

Public Opinion 

Document(s)

Chinese Netizens’ Opinions on Death Sentences

By Bin Liang and Jianhong Liu, The University of Michigan Press, on 4 November 2021


2021

Academic report

China

Public Opinion 


More details See the document

The People’s Republic of China no doubt leads the world in both numbers of death sentences and executions. Despite being the largest user of the death penalty, China has never conducted a national poll on citizens’ opinions toward capital punishment, while claiming “overwhelming public support” as a major justification for its retention and use. Based on a content analysis of 38,512 comments collected from 63 cases in 2015, this study examines the diversity and rationales of netizens’ opinions of and interactions with China’s criminal justice system. In addition, the book discusses China’s social, systemic, and structural problems and critically examines the rationality of netizens’ opinions based on Habermas’s communicative rationality framework. Readers will be able to contextualize Chinese netizens’ discussions and draw conclusions about commonalities and uniqueness of China’s death penalty practice.

  • Document type Academic report
  • Countries list China
  • Themes list Public Opinion 

Document(s)

How to Work with Parliamentarians for the Abolition of the Death Penalty

By World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, on 7 October 2021


2021

Working with...

World Coalition

Moratorium

Public Opinion 

fr
More details Download [ pdf - 18114 Ko ]

This how-to guide, elaborated with Parliamentarians for Global Action with highlights coming from the African continent, is specifically designed for the use of abolitionist civil society groups who want to work with parliamentarians for the abolition of the death penalty.

Document(s)

Report of the Secretary General: Question of the death penalty 2021 (A/HRC/48/29)

By Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), on 15 September 2021


2021

United Nations report

Public Opinion 


More details See the document

The present report is submitted pursuant to decision 18/117 and resolution 42/24 of the Human Rights Council. The report focuses on consequences arising from the lack of transparency in the application and imposition of the death penalty on the enjoyment of human rights.

  • Document type United Nations report
  • Themes list Public Opinion 

Document(s)

Preventing the Reinstatement of Capital Punishment in the Maldives

By World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, Nasheen Kalkat - Reprieve, on 10 August 2021


2021

Campaigning

Maldives

Public Opinion 

fr
More details Download [ pdf - 261 Ko ]

Findings from a preliminary study concerning the local abolitionist movement, risksto related civilsociety organizations and the identification of capacity building opportunities.

Document(s)

Preventing the Reintroduction of the Death Penalty in the Philippines

By World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, Mai Sato and Sara Kowal, on 10 August 2021


Campaigning

Philippines

Public Opinion 

fr
More details Download [ pdf - 218 Ko ]

Findings of a study on the threats facing local civil society efforts to combat reinstroduction of the death penalty and the risks involved with reintroducing the death penalty in the Philippines.

Document(s)

Turkey: The Risk of Reinstatment of the Death Penalty

By World Caolition againt the Death Penalty, Anne Souléliac, Rusen Aytac - Barreau de Paris, on 10 August 2021


Campaigning

Public Opinion 

Turkey

fr
More details Download [ pdf - 312 Ko ]

Findings from a preliminary study on the situation of human rights defenders in Turkey and the potential of a return to capital punishment.

Document(s)

Helpful Hints and Advice on Online Harassment

By World Coalition against the Death Penalty , on 10 August 2021


Campaigning

Public Opinion 

fr
More details Download [ pdf - 165 Ko ]

Online advocacy efforts by human rights organizations face increasingly dangerous threats. In this short guide, we elaborate a few helpful hints and
advice, as well as list a compilation of resources that organizations can refer to handle online harassment.

Document(s)

Investigating Attitudes to the Death Penalty in Indonesia in bahasa Indonesia

By Universitas Indonesia LBH Masyarakat Universitas Oxford The Death Penalty Project, on 10 August 2021


NGO report

Drug Offenses

Indonesia

Public Opinion 


More details See the document

Pandangan Para Pembentuk Opini tentang Hukuman Mati di Indonesia

  • Document type NGO report
  • Countries list Indonesia
  • Themes list Drug Offenses / Public Opinion 

Document(s)

The Phantom

By Patrick Forbes, on 10 August 2021


Multimedia content

Innocence

Public Opinion 

United States


More details See the document

THE PHANTOM tells the story of one of the darkest episodes in the long history of American justice. A story of how the State of Texas knowingly sent an innocent man to his death and left a serial killer at large. A case in which – for the first time – it can be conclusively proven that the US courts executed a blameless man.

This film uncovers the shocking truth behind a tale of murder, corruption and lies that unfolded in the dusty, desperate streets of a Texas oil town nearly thirty years ago.

  • Document type Multimedia content
  • Countries list United States
  • Themes list Innocence / Public Opinion 
Sierra Leone's flag

Article(s)

Sierra Leone abolishes the Death Penalty

By World Coalition Against the Death Penalty , on 2 August 2021

On Friday 23rd July 2021, Sierra Leone’s Parliament unanimously abolished the death penalty by passing the Abolition of the Death Penalty Act.

2021

Public Opinion 

Sierra Leone

Document(s)

Investigating Attitudes to the Death Penalty in Indonesia, Part Two – Public Opinion: No Barrier to Abolition

By Carolyn Hoyle - The Death Penalty Project, in partnership with LBH Masyarakat and the University of Indonesia, on 28 June 2021


2021

NGO report

Drug Offenses

Indonesia

Public Opinion 


More details See the document

In 2019-20, The Death Penalty Project, in partnership with LBH Masyarakat and the University of Indonesia, commissioned Professor Carolyn Hoyle, of The Death Penalty Research Unit at the University of Oxford to conduct research investigating attitudes towards the death penalty in Indonesia. The findings have been presented in a two-part report; the first details the findings of a nuanced public survey and the second details the findings of interviews conducted with opinion formers. The public opinion research was undertaken by surveying a stratified random sample of 1,515 respondents – a sample large enough to make inferences from the data about the views of the overall population.

  • Document type NGO report
  • Countries list Indonesia
  • Themes list Drug Offenses / Public Opinion 

Document(s)

Investigating Attitudes to the Death Penalty in Indonesia Part One – Opinion Formers: An Appetite for Change

By Carolyn Hoyle - The Death Penalty Project, in partnership with LBH Masyarakat and the University of Indonesia, on 28 June 2021


NGO report

Drug Offenses

Indonesia

Public Opinion 


More details See the document

In 2019-20, The Death Penalty Project, in partnership with LBH Masyarakat and the University of Indonesia, commissioned Professor Carolyn Hoyle, of The Death Penalty Research Unit at the University of Oxford to conduct research investigating attitudes towards the death penalty in Indonesia.
The findings have been presented in a two-part report; the first details the findings of a nuanced public survey and the second details the findings of interviews conducted with opinion formers.

  • Document type NGO report
  • Countries list Indonesia
  • Themes list Drug Offenses / Public Opinion 
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL GLOBAL REPORT

Article(s)

Editorial: Amnesty International releases annual report

By Amnesty International, on 27 May 2021

On 21 April, we published our annual report on the global use of the death penalty, which shows that in 2020 the world got one step closer to freeing itself from this cruel punishment.

2021

Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment and Punishment

Death Row Conditions 

Public Opinion 

14th United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

Article(s)

Recapping the UN Crime Congress in Kyoto

By Teppei Ono, CPR, on 15 March 2021

The United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice was held in Kyoto, Japan from 7 to 12 March 2021.

2021

Public Opinion 

World coalition against death penalty

Article(s)

Abolition of the death penalty must be an integral part of crime prevention programmes and criminal justice reforms

By Amnesty International, on 5 March 2021

As the Fourteenth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice is about to begin in Kyoto, Japan, the undersigned organizations urge the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and its subsidiary bodies, including the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC); and all UN member states, including the Congress host country Japan, to make […]

2021

Public Opinion 

United Nations 46th Human Rights Council

Article(s)

UN High Level Panel on the Death Penalty and Deterrence

By Grace O'Connor, on 25 February 2021

The UN Biennial High Level Panel on the Death penalty focused on the deterrent effect capital punishment has on crime. Representatives from member states, NGOs and NHRIs made statements to the high level panel discussing the deterrent theory.

2021

Public Opinion 

World Coalition Against the Death Penalty

Article(s)

The Flaws of Deterrence Theory for Capital Punishment

By Fiacat, on 23 February 2021

Joint Oral Statement delivered during the United Nations 46th Human Rights Council Biennial high-level panel discussion on the question of the death penalty.

2021

Public Opinion 

Buildings

Article(s)

How Business May Contribute to Universal Abolition

By Louis Linel, on 29 January 2021

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have long been at the forefront of the movement for human dignity, as the main, highly-specialized – and sometimes isolated– champions for social justice. However, a new generation of advocates from the private sector, whose primary center of interest or area of expertise seems disconnected from international human rights standards, has been […]

2021

Public Opinion 

Document(s)

Let the Lord Sort Them. The Rise and Fall of the Death Penalty

By Maurice Chammah, on 27 January 2021


2021

Book

Public Opinion 

United States


More details See the document

Maurice Chammah (The Marshall Project) explores the rise and fall of capital punishment in Texas where it appears to durably decline in spite of the state’s long use of the death penalty.

  • Document type Book
  • Countries list United States
  • Themes list Public Opinion 
Community of Sant’Egidio

Article(s)

Community of Sant’Egidio Calls for Universal Abolition with Cities for Life, Cities Against the Death Penalty

By Louis Linel, on 8 December 2020

The discussion was chaired by Mario Marazitti, who stood in front of broadcasted live images of the light-draped Colosseum in Rome, Italy, displaying the slogan of this international key event, “No Justice Without Life”.

2020

Italy

Malaysia

Public Opinion 

United States

US White House

Article(s)

Appel à suspendre les exécutions fédérales ordonnées par l’administration sortante aux États-Unis d’Amérique

on 8 December 2020

Quelques jours après été battu lors des élections face à Joe Biden, le gouvernement de Donald Trump a continué à programmer de nouvelles exécutions fédérales, poursuivant la mise en œuvre d’un programme cruel, inhumain et dégradant en matière de peine de mort. Le président Trump avait permis la reprise des exécutions fédérales en juillet 2020, […]

United States

Moratorium

Public Opinion 

Public Opinion 

US White House

Article(s)

Calling for an End to the Federal Executions of the Outgoing Trump Administration

By World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, on 8 December 2020

A few days after losing the national election to President-Elect Joe Biden, the Donald Trump administration in the United States of America has continued scheduling a spree of federal executions in an attempt to push its cruel, inhuman and degrading death penalty agenda forward. President Trump resumed federal executions in July 2020, breaking a 17-year […]

Moratorium

Public Opinion 

United States

Article(s)

Groundbreaking Survey Reveals Iranians’ Attitudes Towards the Death Penalty

By GAMAAN Institute / World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, on 23 October 2020

This survey, conducted by the GAMAAN Institute between the 3rd and the 11th of September 2020, includes responses from about twenty thousand people living inside Iran.

2020

Iran (Islamic Republic of)

Public Opinion 

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)

7th Congress – The new challenges of the abolitionist movement

By Louis Linel, on 5 March 2019

The actors involved in the universal abolition of the death penalty outlined the new challenges ahead in the fight for the right to life.

2019

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

7th World Congress – Closing ceremony

By World coaltion against death penalty, on 1 March 2019

The 7th World Congress is coming to an end, after four days of intense exchanges and debates to advance the cause of abolition. A look back at this last morning and the closing ceremony.

2019

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

7th World Congress – 28th february

By World coaltion against death penalty, on 28 February 2019

The programme of the 7th World Congress continued today with more than fifteen events held at the Egmont Palace. Plenary meetings, round tables, workshops, screenings and signings… This is a non-exhaustive summary of this new day.

2019

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

7th World Congress – Opening ceremony and first day

By World coaltion against death penalty, on 27 February 2019

Launched yesterday, abolitionists from around the world have gathered in Brussels for the 7th World Congress Against the Death Penalty organized by ECPM in partnership with the World Coalition that will continue until Friday. Looking back on the last two days of a Congress that has been thus far rich in emotion

2019

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

7th World Congress LIVE on Twitter!

By World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, on 26 February 2019

Follow the 7th World Congress Against the Death Penalty taking place in Brussels from 26 February to 1st March 2019 on Twitter: #7congressECPM

2019

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Lindy Lou Juror #2

By Clémentine Etienne, on 31 July 2018

On the occasion of the screening of the movie Lindy Lou Juror number 2 on Monday 25 June 2018, abolitionist associations such as Amnesty International, ACAT France, Together Against The Death Penalty French Collectif Free Mumia! and the World Coalition against the Death Penalty met at the Centre Wallonie Bruxelles in Paris.

2018

Public Opinion 

United States

Article(s)

Launching of death penalty abolition project in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean

By Jessica Corredor, on 25 July 2018

The 22 and 23 June 2018, the Greater Caribbean for Life, the Death Penalty Project, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Human Rights Association, the University of the West Indies and the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty met in Barbados to launch their joint three year project in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.

2018

Barbados

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Mass convictions and executions fuel terrorism in Iraq

By Clémentine Etienne, on 27 June 2018

Mass executions in Iraq since 2017 seem to hide behind the scourge of terrorism, the major argument given by the current government. Will May 2018 elections defeat this government policy and the misuse of the country’s anti-terrorism law to sentence to death?

2018

Iran (Islamic Republic of)

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Parliamentarians from Francophone Africa meet in Kinshasa to discuss the abolition of the death penalty

By Parliamentarians for Global Action, on 12 June 2018

The 1st and 2nd June 2018, Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA), Ensemble contre la peine de mort (Together against the death penalty, ECPM) and Culture pour la paix et la justice (Culture for peace and justice, CPJ) organised in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC) a regional parliamentary seminar entitled “Abolition of the death penalty in Africa: the role of parliamentarians”, with the support of the European Union and of the Honourable Aubin Minaku, Speaker of the National Assembly of the DRC and Member of PGA.

2018

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

12 Years Without an Execution: Is Zimbabwe Ready for Abolition?

By Death Penalty Project, on 24 May 2018

The Death Penalty Project, in partnership with Veritas, launches “12 Years Without an Execution: Is Zimbabwe Ready for Abolition?” a national public opinion study, providing for the first time comprehensive and contextualised data on public attitudes towards the death penalty in Zimbabwe – a country that has not carried out any executions in over 12 years.

2018

Public Opinion 

Zimbabwe

Article(s)

The death penalty at the heart of the debates of the 62nd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights

By Guillaume Colin - Jessica Corredor, on 15 May 2018

The 62nd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), the African Union body responsible for the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa, was held from April 25th to May 9th, 2018 in Nouakchott, Mauritania.The death penalty was at the heart of the debates throughout this Session, during panel discussions, side-events or during the review of the State’s periodic reports.

2018

Mauritania

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Mandatory Death Penalty for Blasphemy in Mauritania

By World Coalition Against the death penalty, on 11 May 2018

Through this joint statement twenty one national and international NGOs, calls upon Mauritanian authorities to reverse the recent adoption of a law on apostasy related crimes making the death penalty mandatory for blasphemy.

2018

Mauritania

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Annual report on the death penalty in Iran 2017

By Iran Human Rights (IHR) - Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM), on 22 March 2018

The report shows that in 2017 at least 517 people were executed in the Islamic Republic of Iran. This number is comparable with the execution figures in 2016 and confirms the relative reduction in the use of the death penalty compared to the period between 2010 and 2015.

2018

Drug Offenses

Fair Trial

Iran (Islamic Republic of)

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Abolitionists fight against the abusive use of the death penalty

By Thalia Gerzso, on 28 November 2017

In October 2017, Pakistan has agreed to initiate efforts to narrow down the scope of the death penalty. This first step is the result of a strong mobilization from Pakistani and international organizations, in particular during World Day.

2017

Pakistan

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

The Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines launches a campaign against the reinstatement of the death penalty in the country

By Thalia Gerzso, on 26 October 2017

Despite its national and international commitment not to carry out any executions, Philippines is taking worrying measures toward the reinstatement of the death penalty for drug offenses. Determined to thwart the government’s plan, the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines has taken various actions, including an awareness campaign for the 15th World Day Against the Death Penalty.

2017

Philippines

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Strong mobilization in Sub-Saharan Africa on World Day

By Thalia Gerzso, on 19 October 2017

On October 10, 2017, all the abolitionists all around the world joined their forces to celebrate the 15th World Day Against the Death Penalty. The mobilization was particularly strong in Sub-Saharan Africa where many events were organized. Thus, the pugnacity of African abolitionists put the abolition of the death penalty at the heart of every discussion.

2017

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Democratic Republic of the Congo: the abolitionists organize workshops for journalists

By Thalia Gerzso, on 25 September 2017

Concerned by the population’s view on the death penalty, the Human Rights Defenders and Abolitionist Advocates in Democratic Republic of the Congo Network [Réseau des associations de défense des droits de l’homme et militants abolitionnistes de la peine de mort en République Démocratique du Congo (RADHOMA)] organized several training courses for journalists in the past few months.

2017

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Take Action for World Day 2017!

By World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, on 12 September 2017

Check what you can do for 10 October. Browse the calendar of events and the map to prepare and promote the events planned around the world on the big day.

2017

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Algeria: it’s time to move from the moratorium to the abolition

By Florence Bellivier et Lorène du Crest, on 24 May 2017

Organized by the National Algerian Committee in partnership with the Boumerdes bar association, a seminar on the death penalty took place the 28th and 29th of April in Algeria. Gathering mainly academics, lawyers and representatives of the civil society, this seminar had the ambition to contribute to the “long process for the final abolition of the death penalty in Algeria”. The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty was represented by Florence Bellivier, Deputy Secretary General of the International Federation of the Leagues of Human Rights (FIDH).

2017

Algeria

Moratorium

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Commitment of youth to universal abolition

By Lorène du Crest, on 20 April 2017

On Tuesday, April 18th 2017, Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM) held an award ceremony at the City Hall of Paris for their “Educational Project on Human Rights and the Abolition of the Death Penalty”.

2017

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Death penalty and the “war on drugs” discussed during the 60th U.N. Commission on Narcotic Drugs annual meeting.

By Lorène du Crest, on 31 March 2017

In March 2017, the 60th Commission on Narcotic Drugs annual meeting in Vienna took place. During this meeting, governments have been encouraged to “promote proportionate national sentencing policies for drug-related offences”. The death penalty was addressed during several side events.

2017

Drug Offenses

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Philippines: House of Representatives must uphold international law obligations ahead of first death penalty vote

By Amnesty International & other organisations, on 19 February 2017

Nine international organisations are calling upon the Philippines to uphold its international obligations and not to restore death penalty in the country.

2017

Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment and Punishment

Philippines

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

A new decline in the use of the death penalty in the US in 2016

By Elise Guillot, on 17 January 2017

With 30 death sentences pronounced and 20 executions carried out, the use of the death penalty in the USA saw a new record decline in 2016, as reported in the Death Penalty Information Center’s year-end report. Nevertheless, the abolitionists are worried that 2017 may not be so successful.

2017

Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment and Punishment

Public Opinion 

United States

Article(s)

ACAT-CI commits to the ratification of OP2 in Côte d’Ivoire

By N'guettia Yves Arsene Kouadio - ACAT Côte d'Ivoire, on 4 January 2017

Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture in Côte d’Ivoire (ACAT CI) has conducted advocacy activities between May and November 2016 in order to raise awareness on the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (OP2), aiming at the abolition of the death penalty. This project has been supported by the International Organisation of la Francophonie (OIF) and the International Federation of ACAT (FIACAT).

2017

Côte d'Ivoire

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Cities for Life 2016: Let’s stay vigilant

By Emmanuel Trépied, on 19 December 2016

On 30 November, the International Day of “Cities for Life” was celebrated around the world. An opportunity to raise awareness among the civil society on the universal abolition.

2016

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Towards the abolition of the death penalty in DRC: advances to be confirmed

By Olivier LUNGWE FATAKI - Pax Christi Uvira, on 13 December 2016

To date, the Democratic Republic of the Congo maintains the death penalty in its legislation. The proponents of the capital punishment argue that it remains an efficient tool for deterrence in general as well as a solution to the recurring criminal phenomenon hitting the country’s Eastern part.

2016

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Moratorium

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Renewed calls for the abolition of the death penalty at the NGO forum and the 59th Session of the ACHPR

By Jessica Corredor, on 25 November 2016

At the end of October, the civil society gathered for the NGO Forum preceding the 59th African Commission for Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR): an occasion to put the death penalty on the agenda of the African Commission and to make the calls for the abolition heard. Nonetheless, difficulties on the path towards the abolition in the African continent remain.

2016

Gambia

Moratorium

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

The abolitionists’ forum in Niger: a great success

By Garba Illou Almoctar and Elise Guillot, on 22 November 2016

The first Nigerien abolitionists’ forum on the death penalty was held in Niamey on November 4 and 5, 2016. The NGO Réseau progrès et développement humanitaire du Niger (REPRODEVH-NIGER) and the Nigerien Coalition Against the Death Penalty organised the event, which was sponsored by the Ministry of Justice, the National Commission on Human Rights and the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty. The initiative met with great success.

2016

Niger

Public Opinion 

Terrorism

Article(s)

Abolition of the death penalty in Guinea

By Marion Gauer, on 5 July 2016

Guinean Parliament put an end to Guinea’s de facto moratorium by abolishing the death penalty in law in this country.

2016

Guinea

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

The World Coalition gathers in Oslo

By Federica Merenda, on 30 June 2016

On the occasion of the 6th World Congress Against the Death Penalty held on 21-23 June this year, the World Coalition gathered in Oslo, with about 150 delegates attending the Congress representing more than 50 member organizations.

2016

Fair Trial

Legal Representation

Norway

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Closing ceremony of the project « My pencil for abolition » at the French Ministry of foreign affairs

By Marion Gauer, on 27 May 2016

On May 23rd, 2016, the closing ceremony of the project “My pencil for abolition” took place at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This project was organized by the team of “Educating and Raising Awareness on Abolition” in the association Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM): it consisted in involving a few middle and high school’s classes, from Lorraine, Belfort and the Parisian region, in the elaboration of articles and cartoons in order to create a magazine committed to the abolition of the death penalty, known as the Abolition Mag.

2016

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

“We need to feel the reality of the death penalty”

By Lauranne Mailhabiau, on 22 June 2015

So said Raphael Chenuil Hazan, director of ECPM, at the opening ceremony of the Asian Regional Congress in Kuala Lumpur.

2015

Indonesia

Malaysia

Public Opinion 

Taiwan

Article(s)

World Coalition publishes abolition guide for parliamentarians

By Maria Donatelli (in Rabat, Morocco), on 9 December 2014

A new handbook gives members of parliaments arguments and advice to work towards abolition in their countries and to support their colleagues abroad.

2014

Morocco

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

ADPAN network strengthens abolitionists across Asia

By Aurélie Plaçais (in Taipei, Taiwan), on 9 December 2014

The Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network, a coalition hosted by Amnesty International in London since 2006, has become an independent organisation registered in Malaysia and held its first AGM in Taipei, Taiwan on 4-5 December.

China

Japan

Malaysia

Mongolia

Public Opinion 

Republic of Korea

Taiwan

Taiwan

Article(s)

Publishing the final words of the executed to restore their humanity

By Thomas Hubert, on 16 October 2014

Publisher Joshua Herman and photographer Marc Asnin want to issue thousands of American schools with a book presenting the final statements of executed prisoners in an attempt to remind supporters and opponents of the death penalty alike that it targets human beings.

2014

Public Opinion 

United States

Article(s)

Malian opinion leaders meet to discuss death penalty abolition

on 6 October 2014

World Coalition member organisation FIACAT and its affiliate in Mali, ACAT Mali organised a seminar to raise awareness on the abolition of the death penalty in Mali in Bamako on 29 and 30 September 2014.

2014

Mali

Mali

Public Opinion 

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)

African leaders and abolitionists hold anti-death penalty summit in Cotonou

By World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, on 7 July 2014

The signature of an African treaty on the abolition of the death penalty is a priority to firm up the trend moving away from capital punishment across the continent.

2014

Benin

Benin

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Working with journalists to expose the death penalty’s flaws

By World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, on 30 June 2014

Journalists and activists held a joint practical workshop during the World Coalition’s recent AGM in Puerto Rico to discuss ways of getting the abolitionist message across in the media.

2014

Public Opinion 

Puerto Rico

Article(s)

US executions drop below 40 in 2013

By Death Penalty Information Center, on 20 December 2013

According to the Death Penalty Information Center’s annual report, the number of death sentences in the United States has remained near record lows, a new State repealed capital punishment and public support for the death penalty fell to a 40-year low.

2013

Public Opinion 

United States

Article(s)

Moving away from the death penalty in Asia

By Sandra Babcock (DeathPenaltyWorldwide.org) in Bangkok, on 25 October 2013

Following up on the World Day Against the Death Penalty, successive meetings in Thailand and in China highlight decreasing support for capital punishment among Asian governments and public opinion.

2013

Brunei Darussalam

China

Japan

Lao People's Democratic Republic

Moratorium

Myanmar

Public Opinion 

Thailand

Article(s)

Events, strong words and hard facts to fight death penalty in the Caribbean

By Thomas Hubert, on 11 October 2013

As World Day Against the Death Penalty events unfolded on an unprecedented scale across the region, local activists and international organisations took a firm stance against capital punishment across the Caribbean.

2013

Bahamas

Barbados

Belize

Guatemala

Jamaica

Public Opinion 

Puerto Rico

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Trinidad and Tobago

Article(s)

Divided opinions on death penalty in Belarus

on 8 October 2013

On the occasion of the World Day Against the Death Penalty, World Coalition member organizations Penal Reform International and Belarus Helsinki Committee are releasing a rare opinion poll on what people know and think about capital punishment in the last European country with the death penalty.

2013

Belarus

Belarus

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Caribbean Conference – The Death Penalty in the Context of Public Security: Neither Right, Nor Effective

By Greater Caribbean For Life, on 9 September 2013

To celebrate the 11th World Day Against the Death Penalty dedicated to the Greater Caribbean, a regional conference is organised by local civil society in Trinidad and Tobago on October, 1st.

2013

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Malaysian popular support for mandatory death penalty overstated

By Thomas Hubert, on 10 July 2013

A detailed opinion survey commissioned by the Death Penalty Project in Malaysia found that while most people initially respond supportively when asked about mandatory death sentences, their opinion changes when confronted with practical cases and additional information.

2013

Malaysia

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

EU regrets difficulties in dialogue with Belarus

By Tiziana Trotta, on 16 June 2013

European Union officials and Belarusian activists denounce Minsk’s lack of political will to tackle the death penalty.

2013

Belarus

Belarus

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

After abolition: what alternative to the death penalty?

By Thomas Hubert, on 15 June 2013

Ending the death penalty means finding replacement sanctions to punish former capital crimes – while taking into accounts human rights standards.

2013

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Study explores variety of national paths to abolition

By Thomas Hubert, on 3 May 2013

From courageous political leaders to traditional African values, the International Commission against the Death Penalty’s analysis of the factors leading to the abolition of capital punishment in 13 countries offers advice to retentionist countries.

2013

Cambodia

Haiti

Mongolia

Norway

Public Opinion 

Rwanda

Senegal

South Africa

United States

Article(s)

Taiwan visit tarnished by six executions

By Patrick Kamenka, on 25 April 2013

The meeting of the World Coalition Steering Committee on 12 and 13 April 2013 in Taipei, attended by twenty people, was tarnished the same week by the execution of six prisoners sentenced to death, even though high-level assurances had been given by the State with regard to reducing such barbarous acts.

2013

Death Row Conditions 

Public Opinion 

Taiwan

Taiwan

Article(s)

Japan in breach of international standards, opinion wavering – study

By Thomas Hubert, on 14 March 2013

A report published by the Death Penalty Project and the Center for Prisoners’ Rights shows that Japanese law and practice on capital punishment violate international treaties, and questions the high level of public support for the death penalty reported by the authorities.

2013

Japan

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Kazakh criminal law reform could add capital crimes

By Thomas Hubert, on 15 February 2013

As Kazakhstan’s authorities prepare to introduce a new penal code, World Coalition members are warning against attempts to broaden the offences punishable by death.

2013

Kazakhstan

Moratorium

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Justice ministers meet as Colosseum lights up to say yes to life

By Community of Sant'Egidio, on 10 December 2012

The Community of Sant’Egidio conducted a crucial political networking exercise in favour of abolition in Rome at the end of November before 1,600 cities lit up their monuments against the death penalty.

2012

Benin

Burundi

Central African Republic

France

Gabon

Italy

Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan

Mongolia

Public Opinion 

Switzerland

Togo

United States

Uzbekistan

Zimbabwe

Article(s)

West African ACATs focus on public opinion and lobbying

By Guillaume Colin (FIACAT), on 28 November 2012

Participants to the meeting held by FIACAT in Senegal mid-November received training on regional abolitionist activism and set priorities for their actions.

2012

Benin

Burkina Faso

Côte d'Ivoire

Ghana

Liberia

Mali

Moratorium

Niger

Public Opinion 

Senegal

Togo

Article(s)

California narrowly rejects abolition

By Thomas Hubert, on 8 November 2012

Citizens of the largest US state have voted against an initiative to replace the death penalty with life sentences, but the results show abolitionist views have gained significant ground through the referendum campaign.

2012

Public Opinion 

United States

Article(s)

Abolitionists from the whole Arab World hold their first congress

By Aurélie Plaçais, on 22 October 2012

The Regional Congress on the Death Penalty held in Rabat, Morocco between 18-20 October highlighted the key role of civil society in pushing the abolitionist agenda in a region affected by deep changes.

2012

Algeria

Egypt

Jordan

Mauritania

Moratorium

Morocco

Public Opinion 

Tunisia

Article(s)

International conference addresses Caribbean outlook on capital punishment

By Emile Carreau, on 26 October 2011

A two-day conference organised by the Community of Sant’Egidio on the death penalty in the Greater Caribbean took place in Madrid between 17-19 October, highlighting issues of rising crime and international influence in the region.

2011

Murder Victims' Families

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

African countries discuss Rwandan example in abolition of the death penalty

on 22 October 2011

Kigali hosted the Inter-African conference against the death penalty on 13 and 14 October.

2011

Gabon

Public Opinion 

Rwanda

Rwanda

Article(s)

World Day Buzz In Africa

By Emile Carreau, on 6 October 2011

Conferences, round tables, talks, tours, meetings with politicians, debates, press conferences, sit-ins, cultural evenings, marches and speeches are among the many events that will take place in Africa for this 9th World Day Against the Death Penalty.

2011

Benin

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Moratorium

Murder Victims' Families

Public Opinion 

Rwanda

Article(s)

Opening up the debate in countries with the death penalty

By Penal Reform International, on 19 September 2011

On 19 and 20 September, World Coalition member organisation Penal Reform International (PRI) is bringing 120 people from retentionist countries to London to discuss global trends towards abolition of the death penalty.

2011

Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment and Punishment

Public Opinion 

Syrian Arab Republic

United Kingdom

Article(s)

Former death row warden turns frontline abolitionist

on 6 June 2011

Jeanne Woodford, who used to oversee excutions in California, has become the executive director of the prominent anti-capital punishment organisation Death Penalty Focus.

2011

Death Row Conditions 

Public Opinion 

United States

Article(s)

The new Tunisia and the death penalty

on 16 May 2011

The revolution in Tunisia and the resulting changes in the political landscape may offer unprecedented new opportunities for abolitionist organizations

2011

Public Opinion 

Tunisia

Article(s)

African human rights body targets death penalty

on 16 May 2011

The abolition of the capital punishment figured prominently at the 49th session of the African Commission of Human and People’s Rights.

Algeria

Botswana

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Equatorial Guinea

Mauritania

Public Opinion 

Somalia

Sudan

Article(s)

Will Arab revolutions bring new hope for abolition?

on 4 April 2011

The winds of change have brought fresh air to the abolitionist cause in countries throughout the Middle East and North Africa, with new faces in power reigniting a stalled debate.

2011

Algeria

Egypt

Lebanon

Mauritania

Moratorium

Morocco

Public Opinion 

Syrian Arab Republic

Terrorism

Tunisia

Yemen

Article(s)

The future of the death penalty in the United States

on 27 March 2011

Governor Pat Quinn’s signing abolition into law last week in Illinois has reopened the debate on the death penalty throughout the country. Several states are currently considering abolition.

2011

Public Opinion 

United States

Article(s)

An uncertain future for the infamous San Quentin prison

on 26 March 2011

The death row facility of California at San Quentin finds itself at the center of a fierce debate over the future of a hugely expensive and increasingly unpopular death penalty system.

2011

Death Row Conditions 

Public Opinion 

United States

Article(s)

Trinidad and Tobago narrowly avoids resumption of executions

on 8 March 2011

A bill which aimed to facilitate executions in the Caribbean nation was defeated in Parliament on February 28.

2011

Public Opinion 

Trinidad and Tobago

Article(s)

Puerto Rico hosts a week of World Coalition events

on 16 February 2011

International abolitionists gathered on the Caribbean territory to promote their message and to show solidarity with the local authorities against capital punishment.

2011

Murder Victims' Families

Public Opinion 

Puerto Rico

United States

Article(s)

Strong support for US abolitionists on World Day

on 11 October 2010

On 10.10.10, the 8th World Day against the Death Penalty focused on ending the use of the death penalty in the United States of America. Since 2003, abolitionists have taken actions all over the world every 10 October to raise awareness and opposition to the death penalty.

2010

Juveniles

Mental Illness

Public Opinion 

United States

Article(s)

Moving towards abolition in the Arab World

on 8 October 2010

NGOs and international organisations opposing the death penalty in Arab countries have met in Egypt for the second time. The World Coalition presented them with a new version of its study on abolition in the region.

2010

Djibouti

Egypt

Public Opinion 

Turkey

Yemen

Article(s)

‘Sakineh’ campaign to culminate in worldwide protests

on 25 August 2010

What started as an effort to save an Iranian woman sentenced to death by stoning is turning into a global movement for human rights and against capital punishment.

2010

Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment and Punishment

Iran (Islamic Republic of)

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Japan executions “a step backward for Asia”

on 30 July 2010

Activists in Japan and elsewhere have criticised Justice Minister Keiko Chiba for ordering two men to be hanged in Tokyo on July 28 despite her earlier abolitionist statements.

2010

Japan

Moratorium

Public Opinion 

Taiwan

Article(s)

California Democratic Party endorses abolition of the death penalty

on 12 May 2010

One of the two main political parties in the largest US State has taken a formal stance against capital punishment – with help from local abolitionist organisations.

2010

Public Opinion 

United States

Article(s)

Soon-to-be abolitionist Benin hosts forum on death penalty in Africa

on 24 April 2010

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights held a regional conference on the death penalty in North and West Africa in Benin mid-April.

2010

Benin

Benin

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Taiwan activists battle in death penalty-triggered political crisis

on 19 March 2010

After Taiwan’s justice minister was forced to step down for not signing execution warrants, local and international abolitionists rushed in to restore a balanced debate and protect the country’s 44 death row inmates.

2010

Moratorium

Public Opinion 

Taiwan

Taiwan

Article(s)

Abolition as seen by police and justice practicioners

on 28 February 2010

You can devote your life to crime reduction in retentionist countries and affirm your opposition to the death penalty. James Abbott is a member of this growing category.

2010

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Public Opinion 

United States

Article(s)

Asia between an abolitionist trend and populist politics

on 28 February 2010

At least 76% of executions worldwide take place in Asia. Despite these impressive figures, Bikramjeet Batra, and indian lawyer with Amnesty International, is optimistic and explains that “the asian trend is toward abolition”.

Public Opinion 

Taiwan

Article(s)

Campaigning through forgiving

on 24 February 2010

A former death row inmate and the grandson of a murder victim explain why compassion – not the death penalty – is the way to heal wounds.

2010

Murder Victims' Families

Public Opinion 

Switzerland

United States

Article(s)

Benin on track to achieve abolition

on 7 February 2010

Benin’s President Thomas Yayi Boni, one of the World Congress’s guests, has asked the parliament to enshrine the abolition of the death penalty in the constitution. Justice Minister Victor Tokpanou details Benin’s path to abolition.

2010

Benin

Benin

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Teaching abolition in Taiwan

on 9 December 2009

Tsou Tzung Han is a Taiwanese teacher who actively took part in educational activities organised around World Day Against the Death Penalty. He writes about his experience with his students.

2009

Public Opinion 

Taiwan

Taiwan

Article(s)

Europe and Japan share “Reflections on life”

on 8 December 2009

Speaking at a symposium on the death penalty organised in Tokyo by the Swedish presidency of the European Union, a Japanese minister expressed his commitment for abolition.

2009

Innocence

Japan

Moratorium

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Flurry of educational events on World Day Against the Death Penalty

on 6 November 2009

An abolitionist wave of marches, cultural happenings, petition signings and educational events swept across the world for the 7th World Day on October 10.

2009

Australia

Clemency

Democratic Republic of the Congo

India

Indonesia

Innocence

Public Opinion 

Taiwan

United States

Article(s)

7th World Day Against the Death Penalty: teaching abolition

By Aurélie Plaçais, on 27 July 2009

On 10 October 2009, World Day Against the Death Penalty, the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty wishes to teach abolition to all citizens around the world, especially to teenagers aged 14 to 18.

2009

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Indonesian activists face upward death penalty trend

on 10 February 2009

Indonesia-based researcher Dave McRae finds that a core group of abolitionists are battling a rise in the number of executions, death sentences and death row inmates in the country.

2009

Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment and Punishment

Drug Offenses

Indonesia

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Jamaica vote illustrates retentionist trend in the Caribbean

on 9 January 2009

Jamaican lawmakers voted to keep capital punishment and the government seems determined to use it. Caribbean abolitionists are battling similar moves across the region.

2009

Jamaica

Public Opinion 

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Article(s)

EU diplomats team up with US activists to co-ordinate efforts against the death penalty

on 18 December 2008

The French presidency of the European Union organised a meeting between EU diplomats and US abolitionists in November to strengthen a discreet but long-standing partnership.

2008

Innocence

Public Opinion 

United States

Article(s)

800 cities light up for life

on 17 November 2008

On November 30, monuments in nearly 800 cities across the globe will light up to celebrate “Cities for Life – Cities Against the Death Penalty”.

2008

Italy

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Activists oppose the death penalty across Asia

on 30 October 2008

Although European activists were slow to take action on World Day Against the Death Penalty, their Asian counterparts showed their strength, especially in the World Coalition’s target countries.

2008

India

Japan

Mongolia

Pakistan

Public Opinion 

Republic of Korea

Taiwan

Article(s)

Helping South Korea on its progress towards abolition

on 22 October 2008

On October 10, World Day Against the Death Penalty, the World Coalition took part in a South Korean event aimed at bringing lawmakers closer to the abolition of capital punishment.

2008

Moratorium

Public Opinion 

Republic of Korea

Article(s)

Thai seminars explore religious perspectives on the death penalty

on 4 August 2008

Thai human rights activists led by the Union for Civil Liberty (UCL) organised a series of seminars with religious leaders to raise their awareness and discuss their perspectives on abolition.

2008

Murder Victims' Families

Public Opinion 

Thailand

Article(s)

Taiwan visit raises hopes of local abolitionists

on 9 July 2008

A recent visit to Taiwan by a joint World Coalition-ADPAN delegation left the impression that the Asian island was on course to “join a global trend towards abolition of the death penalty”, as was reported in the local media.

2008

Public Opinion 

Taiwan

Taiwan

Article(s)

Anti-death penalty double bill in the Gaza Strip

on 3 April 2008

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), a Gaza-based NGO and a member of the World Coalition, organised two meetings on the death penalty in March.

2008

Public Opinion 

State of Palestine

Article(s)

Teng Biao: Olympics an opportunity to put pressure on the Chinese authorities”

on 13 February 2008

Teng Biao is one of the rare activists who call for the immediate abolition of the death penalty from within China. In the past weeks, the police confiscated his passport and he received threats.

2008

China

Innocence

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

ADPAN: tearing down Asia’s death penalty veil of secrecy in 2008

on 3 February 2008

The majority of executions take place in Asia. But this is also the continent where campaigners have developed a fantastic regional abolitionist network, one that reaches across borders, languages and religions.

2008

China

Drug Offenses

Fair Trial

Japan

Mental Illness

Mongolia

Murder Victims' Families

Public Opinion 

Republic of Korea

Article(s)

Abolition in the US: what role for overseas activists?

on 3 February 2008

As part of its 2008 annual conference, the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (NCADP) organised a brainstorming session to explore the question: “How can the international community support us in our efforts to abolish the death penalty in the US?”

Clemency

Public Opinion 

United States

Article(s)

USA: reaching for the dream

on 3 February 2008

For once, the annual conference of the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty opened on an optimistic note.

Public Opinion 

United States

Article(s)

For ACATs, every executed person “is one of us”

on 22 January 2008

Wherever the Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture (ACAT) is present, the struggle against the death penalty is an important element within their commitment to respect for human dignity.

2008

Benin

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Germany

Moratorium

Public Opinion 

Spain

Article(s)

While we wait for the Supreme Court

on 17 January 2008

After the Supreme Court held a hearing much awaited by the abolitionist community on January 7th, we all need to reassess our strategy for abolition in America, writes Sandrine Ageorges.

2008

Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment and Punishment

Public Opinion 

United States

Article(s)

New Jersey sets an example for US states

on 8 January 2008

The abolition of the death penalty in New Jersey on December 17 could pave the way for other US states. Death Penalty Focus’s Speedy Rice explains how some of them may make the move.

2008

Public Opinion 

United States

Article(s)

World Day: inventiveness against the death penalty

on 23 October 2007

France, Peru, Togo, India… Abolitionist activists sounded a rallying call for the 5th World Day Against the Death Penalty across numerous countries via a variety of initiatives.

2007

Denmark

Mongolia

Peru

Public Opinion 

Republic of Korea

Taiwan

Article(s)

The difficult struggle facing Iran’s abolitionists

on 3 September 2007

Iran has taken a dreadful step in the wrong direction in the summer of 2007, through a combination of an increase in executions and the repression of activists opposed to the death penalty.

2007

Iran (Islamic Republic of)

Juveniles

Legal Representation

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Outrage at Texas’s 400th execution

on 27 August 2007

The execution of Johnny Ray Conner, the 400th inmate put to death in Texas since the US reinstated capital punishment 31 years ago, has attracted heavy criticism from abolitionist activists and political institutions.

2007

Public Opinion 

United States

Article(s)

Significant but fragile progress in the Great Lakes region

on 1 May 2007

Rwanda and Burundi are apparently close to abolishing the death penalty; in the Democratic Republic of Congo, all references to capital punishment have been removed from the text of the constitution. The death penalty is on borrowed time in these countries scarred by conflicts. For the first time, the region’s abolitionists met in Paris and called for the creation of a regional coalition.

2007

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Public Opinion 

Article(s)

Moving towards an inter-Arab coalition against the death penalty

on 1 May 2007

As of today, no country in North Africa and the Middle-East has yet abolished the death penalty. However, there are positive signs that the region is now ready to debate the issue – as can be seen from the profusion of discussions and exchanges that took place during the 3 rd World Congress against the Death Penalty.

Public Opinion 

Women