INDEX

The World Coalition organised a round table on action to be taken to support the ratification of the UN’s protocol on the abolition of the death penalty, as part of International CURE’s conference in Geneva in June.

Italy became the 41st state to ratify the 13th Protocol to the European Convention for Human Rights on 3 March 2009.

Nicaragua became the 71th state to ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant for Civil and Politic Rights on 25 February 2009.

The former Soviet republic has confirmed its accession to the only international treaty abolishing the death penalty in an irreversible manner.

Details have emerged on the recent enactment of legislation asserting the death penalty in Liberia. The World Coalition has offered authorities in Monrovia its support to put Liberia back on the path to abolition.

The country has ratified the UN’s Second Optional Protocol, which makes it impossible to reinstate the death penalty. The World Coalition is currently campaigning in favour of that international treaty.

New Liberian legislation makes some violent crimes punishable by death, in violation of the country’s international obligations.

Marc Bossuyt was UN Special Rapporteur for drawing up the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. He is now president of Belgium’s Constitutional Court.

What is it? How is it implemented? You will find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about the Second Optional Protocol below.

From “Acceptance” to “Treaty”, discover the vocabulary of international law and get a clearer picture of the Second Optional Protocol.