INDEX

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.

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.

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 […]

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.

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.

On 8 March 2023, Azerbaijan signed Protocol No. 13 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.

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.

On 15 December 2022, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the 9th resolution for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty with 125 votes in favor (2 more than in 2020), 37 votes against, 22 abstentions and 9 absent.

After Sierra Leone and the Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea has adopted a new Penal Code that abolishes the death penalty for ordinary crimes.

The first six months of 2022 have been rich for the abolitionist community with two new abolitionist countries and a new ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights aiming at the abolition of the death penalty. However, some countries continue to use the death penalty and there […]