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)
Death penalty: UN General Assembly human rights committee renews call for a moratorium on executions
By Amnesty International, on 23 November 2016
Today the overwhelming majority of UN member states once again threw their weight behind a UN General Assembly draft resolution to establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty. 115 of the UN’s 193 member states voted in favour of the proposal, with only 38 voting against it. The draft will now go before the UN General Assembly plenary for final adoption.
2016
Moratorium
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)
Pardon Prisoners On Death Row
By Lucy Peace Nantume, on 8 November 2016
At the end of October, the death sentences of more than 2,500 prisoners were commuted by the Kenyan President. The presidential power of mercy was also recently exercised by the Zimbabwean President, where 10 death row prisoners were pardoned.
2016
Clemency
Kenya
Article(s)
Eager to learn more about the death penalty? Abolitionist civil society around the world answered your call!
By Elise Guillot, on 8 November 2016
10 October saw the release of several publications and tools to raise awareness on the death penalty in all regions of the world. Take a look!
Terrorism
Article(s)
In Cameroon, the abolitionist network grows
By Nestor Toko and Jessica Corredor, on 28 October 2016
For the first time in Cameroon, the Cameroonian organization Droits et Paix, in partnership with the French association Ensemble contre la peine de mort, held a conference and training on the death penalty in Yaounde.
2016
Cameroon
Article(s)
ASEAN countries step back on the path towards abolition
By Tiziana Trotta, on 27 October 2016
Asia has the highest number of retentionist countries in the world. Eight members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) retain the death penalty and four of them carried out executions in 2015.
2016
Drug Offenses
Terrorism
Article(s)
Africa raises its voice against the death penalty
By Tiziana Trotta, on 21 October 2016
Many African organizations and institutions raised their voices on the occasion of the 14th World Day against the Death Penalty, whose last edition, celebrated on October 10, was dedicated to the use of death penalty for terrorism-related crimes.
2016
Terrorism
Article(s)
If I do not accept that a terrorist kills me, I do not accept either to kill a terrorist
By Tiziana Trotta, on 18 October 2016
Khachig Ghosn is a 22-year-old student of social work at the Lebanese University. Three years ago, he witnessed an explosion in Beirut. Despite this dramatic experience, he is against the use of the death penalty and he is convinced that capital executions have no deterrent effect on terrorism.Ghosn is aware that changes in his country take a very long time, but he has a positive long-term vision and hopes that the death penalty will be abolished.
2016
Lebanon
Murder Victims' Families
Terrorism
Article(s)
Web-Editor
By World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, on 17 October 2016
The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty is recruiting a Web-editor for its website.
2016