INDEX
Article(s)
Zimbabwe Abolishes the Death Penalty
By World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, on 6 January 2025
On 31 December 2024, Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa signed the Death Penalty Abolition Bill into law.
2025
Zimbabwe
Article(s)
Zambia commits to irreversible abolition of the death penalty for all crimes
By World coalition against the death penalty, on 23 December 2024
Zambia has acceded to the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR, which is the UN treaty aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, on 19 December 2024.
2024
Zambia
Article(s)
Two thirds of the United Nations General Assembly vote in favor of the 10th resolution for a moratorium on the death penalty
By World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, on 20 December 2024
On 17 December 2024, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the 10th resolution for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty with 130 votes in favor out of the 193 United Nations Member States (5 more than in 2022), 32 votes against (5 less than in 2022), 22 abstentions and 9 absent.
2024
Moratorium
Trend Towards Abolition
Article(s)
Strengthening the Abolitionist Movement: Launch of the Global Consortium for Death Penalty Abolition
By World coalition against the death penalty, on 12 July 2024
Despite a growing number of countries worldwide joining the abolitionist movement every year, bringing the prospect of universal abolition closer to reality, the death penalty remains a significant human rights concern.
2024
Trend Towards Abolition
Article(s)
Côte d’Ivoire Accedes to the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR
By World coalition against the death penalty, on 8 July 2024
Côte d’Ivoire has acceded to the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR, which is the UN treaty aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, on 3 May 2024.
2024
Côte d'Ivoire
Article(s)
Entry into force of Armenia’s ratification of the European Protocol for abolition in all circumstances
By Aurélie Plaçais, on 22 March 2024
In February 2024, Armenia’s ratification of Protocol No. 13 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms concerning the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances entered into force. Armenia was already abolitionist for all crimes and a State Party to the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR, aiming at […]
2024
Armenia
Trend Towards Abolition
Article(s)
Mid-terms: A first half of 2023 marked by multiple abolitions
By Nellia Halimi, on 9 October 2023
The first seven months of 2023 have been rich for the abolitionist community with a new abolitionist country, a new abolitionist state in the United States, as well as progress for abolition within multiple countries. However, some countries continue to use the death penalty and there have been alarming increases in executions.
2023
Ghana
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Kenya
Malaysia
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
Trend Towards Abolition
United States
Uzbekistan
Article(s)
Moratorium Stays in Place in Sri Lanka and Anti-Death Penalty Petitioners Secure an Official Record in Court Proceedings to Protect Future Rights
By World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, on 28 March 2023
Petitioners challenging the potential resumption of executions in Sri Lanka experienced received reassuring news on 23 February 2023 when the Attorney General of Sri Lanka reported to the Supreme Court that the incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe has agreed to not implement executions during his tenure.
2023
Sri Lanka
Trend Towards Abolition
Article(s)
Azerbaijan signs European Protocol for abolition in all circumstances, but still need to ratify it
By Aurélie Plaçais, on 28 March 2023
On 8 March 2023, Azerbaijan signed Protocol No. 13 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.
Azerbaijan
Trend Towards Abolition
Article(s)
Zambia is the 25th African State to Abolish the Death Penalty
By Bronwyn Dudley, World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, on 6 January 2023
On 23 December 2022, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema signed into law Penal Code (Amendment) Bill number 25, which bans the death penalty and the offence of criminal defamation of the president.
2023
Zambia