Key achievements this year

In 2024, Côte d’Ivoire and Zambia ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (OP2-ICCPR), which seeks the global abolition of the death penalty. With these two ratifications, the number of ratifications reached 92, meeting the Consortium’s 2025 goal of 92 ratifications ahead of schedule.

In October 2024, as part of a broader effort to address Saudi Arabia’s human rights violations, Reprieve intensified its advocacy to prevent the Kingdom from securing a seat on the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). Reprieve, alongside ESOHR and other NGOs, led a coalition of advocacy efforts to expose Saudi Arabia’s human rights abuses, which contributed to Saudi Arabia losing its bid for HRC membership. This was a notable achievement for the human rights community and a significant setback for Saudi Arabia’s efforts to improve its global image while continuing its execution practices at home.

On 17 December 2024, two thirds of the United Nations General Assembly voted in favor of the 10^th resolution calling for a global moratorium on the death penalty. For the first time, three countries that had always abstained in previous votes -Kenya, Morocco, and Zambia- voted in favor, marking a meaningful shift in global support. 

The year ended on an even more positive note as, on 31 December 2024, Zimbabwe abolished the death penalty in law, becoming the 30^th country in Africa to do so. This brought the global total of abolitionist states to 123, just one country away from the Consortium’s 2025 target of 124.

A stronger partnership with the EU’s external service

In 2024, the Consortium deepened its collaboration with the European External Action Service (EEAS) through regular meetings and coordinated advocacy, enhancing understanding of local contexts and supporting the EU’s diplomatic strategies without compromising human rights defenders. As part of this cooperation, the Consortium has been providing monthly communication materials on death penalty abolition, featured on the EEAS Instagram account. Representatives from the Consortium, including HRI and ESOHR, also presented on global death penalty trends to the EU Working Group on Human Rights (COHOM) in October 2024.

The FFPA facilitated engagement with EU delegations, enabling strategic meetings with key EU officials and other FFPA initiatives to foster synergies. These efforts helped coordinate actions and funding strategies aimed at abolishing the death penalty in target countries such as Malawi, Pakistan, and the Philippines, as well as connecting with local civil society organizations interested in collaboration. 

A side event at the 68^th session of the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND), co-hosted by HRI and Amnesty International highlighted the disproportionate use of the death penalty for drug-related offenses, revealing a 30% global increase in executions predominantly affecting marginalized populations. Evidence confirms that such punitive measure do not serve as an effective deterrent. Positive reforms from Pakistan, Nigeria, and Indonesia were also shared, along with recommendations emphasizing urgent abolition of the death penalty for drug offenses as a first step toward total abolition; adoption of incremental, multisectoral, evidence-based reforms involving national human rights institutions and the judiciary; enhanced judicial and law enforcement training; comprehensive drug policy reforms addressing systemic issues like prison overcrowding; and stronger leadership from Vienna-based UN bodies such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the CND. These insights are particularly relevant to the EU’s broader human rights and drug policy engagement, underscoring the importance of supporting abolitionist efforts and promoting humane, rights-based approaches to drug control.

On World Day, the EU and Council of Europe jointly reaffirmed their opposition to the death penalty, amplifying abolitionist messages through European embassies’ social media.

A challenging global landscape

Despite these successes, the global situation remains concerning. The first year of the Consortium faced several challenges. Conflicts in regions such as Gaza, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Ukraine, as well as other international developments, affected some countries’ willingness and ability to prioritize the death penalty in global discussions. Political shifts caused by national or local elections also delayed or cancelled planned activities.

In 2024, Amnesty International reported 1,518 executions worldwide, the highest number recorded since the peak of 1,634 executions in 2015. These executions took place in 15 countries, with increases mainly in Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. Furthermore, 46 countries imposed 2,087 new death sentences in 2024. Although this number is lower than in 2023, it is still higher than in 2022. These figures underline the urgent need to support the abolitionist movement and strengthen efforts to end the death penalty.

Working together for impact

Insights from the 2024 World Day Against the Death Penalty confirmed that collaboration is a key driver of impact. As part of the global capacity building action plan, WCADP organized three online communities of practice with HRI, DPP/VERITAS, and WTI. The first webinar focused on advocacy concerning the death penalty for drug offenses, a key driver of executions in 34 countries. HRI shared best practices for engaging with the CND and UNODC while exploring strategic opportunities for abolitionist organizations to advance their advocacy. The second webinar reflected on Zimbabwe’s path to abolition in practice, offering lessons and strategies for overcoming political resistance that could be applied in similar contexts. The third webinar emphasized the need for organizations to provide a safe and supportive environment for impacted individuals in leadership positions, going beyond simply hiring them. The session offered a platform to highlight the experiences and insights of exonerees, share best practices, and explore concrete actions to strengthen organizational inclusion and equity.

Learnings from the World Day 2024 also revealed that interactive formats are especially effective. Street interviews and community discussions sparked meaningful conversations and drew public attention to the issue. Social media continued to play a vital role, with personal stories, infographics, and statistics shared to reach wider audiences. Consortium members also emphasized the importance of combining informative content with interactive tools like quizzes to keep users engaged and learning.

In its first year, the Consortium has enabled new partnerships to emerge and regional dynamics to be strengthened. New players have joined the abolitionist movement, including women’s rights organisations, academic institutions, youth groups and legal professionals. Coordinated actions, such as regional advocacy and campaigns at the United Nations, have helped to forge links between the abolition of the death penalty and other major issues such as women’s rights, restorative justice and the rights of prisoners. These efforts have helped to make the abolitionist movement more inclusive, more locally rooted and better connected on a global scale. Collaboration and finding synergies are vital to maximizing impacts and implement effective advocacy.

Looking ahead 

The Consortium’s first year has demonstrated that coordinated action, even in a difficult context, can yield real progress. As it enters its second year, the Consortium remains focused on deepening partnerships, reinforcing public engagement, and building on its early gains to achieve its goal: a world free of the death penalty.

Images’s source: ©FHRI – World Day 2024

L’article One Year of the Global Consortium for Death Penalty Abolition est apparu en premier sur WCADP.

These FSTP calls were made possible thanks to the financial support of:

• The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) – through the Gender Project,
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Canada – also through the Gender Project,
• The European Union – through the Financial Framework Partnership Agreement (FFPA) with the Global Consortium for Death Penalty Abolition”  

A High Level of Interest for the First Call for Proposals

The first FSTP Open Call, launched in October 2024, received significant interest, with 105 applications submitted, of which 73 were deemed eligible and unique. Most of these came from Africa South and East Asia, and the MENA region. Following a first screening by the Consortium members responsible for FSTP management, 35 applications were reviewed by an Independent Advisory Panel, except for three confidential applications that were exempted for security reasons.

The Independent Advisory Panel was composed of experts bringing diverse regional, thematic and technical perspectives to the selection process:

• Christian Gonzalez Chacon (Guatemala/Greater Caribbean) – Legal and academic expert on international human rights law and the death penalty (first FSTP Open Call only)
• Georges Azzi (Lebanon/MENA) – Advocate for sexual and gender health and rights, with experience in managing US government and EU-funded projects (first FSTP Open Call only)
• Hellen Mwasaha (Kenya/Africa) – Specialist in grants management, project management, finance, accounting, and procurement (second FSTP Open Call only)
• Morris Lipson (USA/UK) – Expert in grantee evaluation and strategic grant-making
• Tala Dowlatshahi (Iran/MENA) – Advocate for decolonising aid and development systems and promoting inclusive global well-being

The Independent Advisory Panel members were selected following a call for expressions of interest in 2023.

Ultimately, 30 applications were selected, with one additional application pending due diligence, awarded for a total of €386 050 granted. Several selected projects remain confidential in order to protect grantees operating in sensitive contexts.

A Second Call for More Targeted Support

The second FSTP Open Call, launched in April 2025, gathered 40 applications from 39 unique applicants, again with strong representation from Africa, South and East Asia, and MENA. Out of these, 16 were pre-selected by relevant Consortium members and reviewed by the independent advisory panel. 

Twelve organisations were selected out of 14 grants available for a total of €80,000 out of the €85,000 available.

Direct Support to Local Abolitionist Actors

Together, the two FSTP calls enabled the funding of more than 40 abolitionist initiatives, led mainly by local civil society organisations—many of which had limited access to financial support in the past. These projects will support a wide range of activities, including advocacy, public awareness, support to families and death row survivors, as well as research and communication adapted to local contexts.

A strong emphasis was placed on inclusiveness, with many selected initiatives integrating gender perspectives, support for marginalised groups, and the reduction of systemic inequalities.

L’article Strengthening the Abolitionist Movement: Over 40 Civil Society Organisations Supported Through FSTP Calls for Proposals est apparu en premier sur WCADP.

Mr Mavenjina works as a senior legal advisor at the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), a prominent national non-governmental organisation committed to the abolition of the death penalty. KHRC are an elected member of the World Coalition’s Steering Committee.

The World Coalition endorses the statement issued by the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of the International Federation for Human Rights Defenders (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), in which the following events are described.

Mr. Mavenjina returned to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi on 5 July, following an official mission to South Africa. He is a Ugandan citizen, and he holds valid legal status to work and reside in Kenya, having lived in Kenya since 2013. Mr Mavenjina is legally married to a Kenyan citizen and has two children who are also both Kenyan citizens. He was initially permitted to pass through immigration checks, however ‘immigration officers reversed their decision without explanation, confiscated his passport, and held him in a detention facility.’ He was then quickly escorted to a Kenya Airways desk and issued a one-way ticket to Kampala. His passport was marked with an exit stamp. 

No formal deportation order or any other legal justification for this conduct was provided to Mr. Mavenjina. He was not advised why, or on what grounds, he was required to leave Kenya, and he is still yet to receive any form of notice or explanation. 

The World Coalition expresses our grave concern at this ‘unlawful expulsion’. Mr. Mavenjina reasonably expects that he will be permitted to safely return to Kenya, and we call upon Kenyan authorities to immediately address, and entirely remedy this situation. 

We also draw attention to a disturbing incident at KHRC’s office, on 6 July 2025. KHRC reports that a press conference was to be conducted by a group of Kenyan mothers who seek an end to arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. Preparations were disrupted by a group who attacked the office and stole important KHRC equipment. 

The World Coalition joins with the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders in calling for ‘the safe and unconditional return of Mr. Mavenjina to Kenya’ and ensuring ‘the physical and psychological integrity of all KHRC members and all human rights defenders and peaceful protesters in the country.’

See the full declaration published by FIDH here: https://www.fidh.org/en/issues/human-rights-defenders/kenya-deportation-of-martin-mavenjina-and-escalating-crackdown-on 

L’article Calling for Martin Mavenjina’s Safe and Unconditional Return to Kenya est apparu en premier sur WCADP.

Live Launch in Manila, the Philippines

The launch of the practical guide was held on 6 June 2025 during a keynote dinner hosted by the Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network (ADPAN) with the theme Hope, Justice, and Solidarity: Working Together against the Death Penalty in the Asia-Pacific.  The dinner celebrated the continuing success story of Mary Jane Veloso who was repatriated by the Indonesian government to the Philippines, saving her from execution in December 2024. Her mother, Celia Veloso, represented Mary Jane during the occasion. Her counsel, Attorney Edre Olalia was the keynote speaker whose reflections on the case were described as a long-awaited milestone with an expression of hope for a presidential pardon.   

The guide’s launch was led by WCADP President Matthew Goldberg, WCADP Vice President and ADPAN Convenor Karen Gomez-Dumpit with WCADP Executive Director Aurelie Placais who thanked the individuals who contributed to its production before an audience composed of advocates and special guests from the diplomatic community including Dr. Ana Isabel Sanchez Ruiz, Deputy Head of EU Delegation to the Philippines.    

The guide was handed to Philippines House Representative – elect Leila de Lima in a symbolic gesture in her role as a legislator to guard against a possible return of capital punishment in the Philippines. 

Methodology

Elaborated during the second and final phase of the “Countries at Risk” project (2018-2024), the objective of this guide is to provide advice to enable members and partners to effectively advocate against a possible return to the death penalty within their countries. 

During the six years the campaign was in place, many strategies and lessons were learned on what it takes to prevent a return to capital punishment. During a meeting in Malaysia of project members in July 2023, the strategies previously identified were shared, debated and built upon. The purpose was to identify strategies that were effective nationally and that could serve as models or inspiration in other national and regional contexts where the death penalty may return. Those lessons have been compiled to create this guide. 

Photo: Guide’s live launch in Manila, the Philippines on 6 June 2025. Credit to the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty.

This guide is part of a series of How-To advocacy manuals. Also available in the series are the following:

How to Work with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights

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

How to Work with National Human Rights Institutions to Abolish the Death Penalty

L’article Launch of a New Practical Guide on How to Prevent a Return to the Death Penalty  est apparu en premier sur WCADP.

Among the many discussions, some – led by member organizations of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty (World Coalition) – highlighted the human rights violations associated with the application of the death penalty for drug-related offences.

Consider abolition of the death penalty as a Trojan horse for reforming punitive policies

HRI’s Giada Girelli presented worrying data on the application of the death penalty for drug-related offenses. According to HRI’s global overview, in 2024, over 615 executions were recorded for drug offenses, representing 42% of all executions worldwide. Nearly 2,350 people on death row in 19 countries for this type of crime. In HRI’s view, this alarming reality calls for an abolitionist strategy specific to drug policies, over and above general advocacy against the death penalty.

Giada pointed out that capital punishment for drug-related offences often serves to legitimize a broader narrative framework of the war on drugs, justifying increased forms of repression. As in Singapore, where the authorities claim that executions would protect society and families, this discourse helps to entrench deeply violent punitive approaches. For HRI, the death penalty is a strategic entry point for denouncing all the excesses of a global repressive system.

Acknowledging the reality of women sentenced to death for drug trafficking

Méline Szwarcberg, head of the World Coalition’s Women and Gender project, spoke on the panel “Justice for women who use drugs: global perspectives on advocacy and policy” to illustrate, through the application of the death penalty, how women are impacted by punitive drug policies. 

She also stressed the importance of strengthening links between the abolitionist movement, the fight for drug policy reform, and women’s rights defenders and LGBTQ+ people, particularly those in contact with the law. Méline explained that building bridges between these spaces can open up new areas of mobilization: talking about gender discrimination can provide an entry point for discussing the abolition of the death penalty or the reform of punitive policies with actors who are usually reticent. Similarly, raising the issue of capital punishment can be a way of highlighting the urgent need for drug policy reform. These intersections create concrete opportunities for social and political transformation.

For an inclusive, decolonial and multisectoral abolitionist strategy 

Discussions at the HRI conference reinforced a conviction shared by many organizations: drug policies cannot be reformed without challenging the racist, capitalist and patriarchal foundations of today’s punitive regimes. The death penalty, far from being an exception, is the most extreme expression of these logics. Its denunciation opens the way to structural, inclusive and truly transformative reforms. 

L’article The death penalty and drug policy: abolitionist perspectives at the Harm Reduction International conference est apparu en premier sur WCADP.

Sunny passed away on 3 June 2025. Her departure leaves a deep void in our hearts and in the abolitionist movement.

Sunny was a symbol of resilience, inner peace, and the pursuit of justice. Sentenced to death in Florida in 1976 for a crime she did not commit, she spent 17 years in prison, including five in solitary confinement on death row. Her story is one of profound injustice, but also of an extraordinary ability to transform pain into strength and anger into unwavering commitment.

Drawing from her own experience, Sunny understood how deeply gender-based discrimination runs through the application of the death penalty. She never stopped denouncing the invisibility of women on death row, the gender bias that distorts trials, and the systemic violence they endure. With clarity and conviction, she tirelessly reminded us that no abolitionist struggle can ignore these realities. She championed a profoundly human vision of justice, rooted in listening, solidarity, and healing.

As an active member of our Gender Working Group, Sunny took part in all our meetings with enthusiasm and dedication. She shared her insights with rare kindness, contagious energy, and deep wisdom. In 2023, she played a key role in raising awareness among CEDAW Committee experts during a side event in Geneva. As always, she took the time to speak with each person individually, generously and gracefully sharing parts of her story. Her resilience was disarming, her sincerity deeply moving. Her determination and commitment were unshakeable.

Sunny touched countless lives through her activism, her public speaking, and her work with other exonerees through the Sunny Center Foundation. Her story inspired books, plays, and films. But above all, we remember the light she brought into every meeting, and the strength of her commitment.

To all those who knew, loved, and walked alongside her, we extend our heartfelt condolences.

Sunny will remain forever in our hearts and in our struggles.

The Gender Working Group
 World Coalition Against the Death Penalty

L’article Tribute to Sunny Jacobs by the Gender Working Group est apparu en premier sur WCADP.

DURING THE DEBATES

During his Global Update, UN High Commissioner on Human Rights Volker Türk urged the Iranian authorities to place an immediate moratorium on the use of the death penalty, deeply troubled by the marked increase in executions over the last year, with over 900 reported cases. Watch it here.

During an Interactive Dialogue, the findings of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFMI) were addressed and heard from the newly appointed Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, Dr. Mai Sato.

In a joint interactive dialogue, Dr. Sato presented her inaugural report (A/HRC/58/62), which insists that “the gendered dimensions of the death penalty merit specific attention and comprehensive analysis”, while the FFMI delivered the conclusions of its mandate report (A/HRC/58/63), alongside a comprehensive Conference Room Paper (A/HRC/58/CRP.1) published that same morning. The FFMI confirmed serious human rights violations, including arbitrary detentions, torture, ill-treatment, and unlawful deaths — both through extrajudicial killings and the application of the death penalty. Watch it here.

In parallel, more than 40 NGOs, including the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty and many of its member organizations, issued a joint statement calling on the Human Rights Council to extend the Special Rapporteur’s mandate and continue independently investigating serious human rights violations.

Marking a major step forward, the Council adopted a resolution (A/HRC/58/L.20/Rev.1) that not only renewed the mandate of the Special Rapporteur but also broadened the scope of the FFMI’s work. The expanded mandate enables UN investigators to examine ongoing and future human rights violations, and to continue gathering evidence with a view to supporting future legal proceedings against responsible individuals and institutions.

CIVIL SOCIETY ORAL STATEMENTS ON THE DEATH PENALTY

On the occasion of this 58th session, several members of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty presented oral statements on the death penalty. 

As the Biennial High-level Panel on the death penalty brought together panelists from various legal and governmental backgrounds to offer their insights into how the judiciary could further contribute to the abolition of the death penalty, it also offered civil society the opportunity to make valuable contribution. Watch it here.

Harm Reduction International (HRI), the FIACAT and Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ), along with two other organizations, emphasized that drug offences are driving executions globally and that drug policy reform is instrumental to achieving total abolition of the death penalty. Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort (ECPM) stressed how the death penalty targets above all the most marginalized and vulnerable categories of the population, as well as minorities and people with psychosocial or intellectual disabilities. The Advocates for Human Rights (TAHR) recalled the crucial role that the judiciary plays in combating gender discrimination by recognizing mitigating circumstances such as domestic violence, highlighting the importance of acknowledging gender bias when sentencing women. Reprieve has emphasized the importance of the role of judges in Kenya, as the insufficient consideration of gender-based violence (GBV) and the disparity inadvertently created by the judiciary when limiting the declaration of unconstitutionality to murder sentences only remain major issues.

Members organizations also delivered oral statements during the adoption of the Universal Periodic Review Outcomes of Brunei Darussalam, Equatorial Guinea and North Korea. 

During the adoption of the Universal Periodic Review Outcome of Brunei Darussalam (A/HRC/58/12), The Advocates for Human Rights (TAHR) and the World Coalition co-delivered an oral statement expressing concern over Brunei’s use of the death penalty. Under the country’s Criminal Procedure Code, the death penalty remains mandatory in certain cases, and the Sharia Penal Code mandates the death sentence by stoning for offenses that do not meet the threshold for the most serious crimes, such as adultery, blasphemy, and consensual same-sex conduct. Brunei Darussalam noted all death penalty-related recommendations. Watch the intervention here.

During the adoption of the Universal Periodic Review Outcome of Equatorial Guinea (A/HRC/58/14), Amnesty International (AI) welcomed the acceptance of over 160 recommendations, including those calling for the removal of all provisions related to the death penalty from the Military Code. Amnesty International urges the government to fully implement the accepted recommendations, including by enacting the necessary legislation. Furthermore, Amnesty International encourages the government to continue working with civil society organizations to ensure the effective implementation of these recommendations. Watch the intervention here.

During the adoption of the Universal Periodic Review Outcome of North Korea (A/HRC/58/11), the Advocates for Human Rights (TAHR), the World Coalition and the Transitional Justice Working Group (TJWG) commended North Korea for accepting two recommendations regarding the death penalty for the first time in UPR history. Notably, Chile recommended to reduce the number of death-eligible crimes, while Belgium recommended to restrict the death penalty to crimes that meet the threshold of the most serious offenses under international law. TAHR, the Worl Coalition and TJWG emphasized the need for swift implementation of these recommendations. However, they also raised concern over the 88 recommendations noted by North Korea, which included all remaining recommendations related to the death penalty. Watch the intervention here.

RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED 

The Human Rights Council adopted 32 resolutions and 13 decisions.

SIDE EVENTS 

Three side events were organized by members of the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty. 

A side event was organized by theDeath Penalty Project (DPP) and theDeath Penalty Research Unit (DPRU) on the Enduring nature of the death penalty under abolitionist de facto status.

A side event was organized by the Advocates for Human Rights (TAHR) about the Universal Periodic Review, with a focus on Gender Issues and Death Penalty in the States under Review in 2025.

A side event was organized by Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort (ECPM) on the Universal Periodic Review and Situation of the Death Penalty.

The 59th regular session of the Human Rights Council is scheduled to take place in Geneva from June 16 to July 11, 2025.

L’article Abolition of the death penalty at the United Nations Human Rights Council 58th session est apparu en premier sur WCADP.

Grenada: Moving Toward The Ratification of OP2

Out of the 18 death penalty-related recommendations received by Grenada, nine of them emphasized the importance of ratifying the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (OP2-ICCPR), highlighting the need to align Grenada’s legal framework with international human rights standards. For instance,  Cyprus recommended the country to “abolish the death penalty and replace it with penalties that are consistent with international human rights standards.”

Guyana: Raise Public Awareness and Build Engagement on Abolition

Guyana received 26 recommendations, with a substantial focus on the ratification of OP2 (17 recommendations). This marks a net increase compared to the 18 death-penalty recommendations received during the last cycle, also predominantly recommending to ratify OP2 (10 recommendations). Notable contributions include Togo’s recommendation that Guyana “remove the death penalty from its legislation, including its Constitution, and [carry out] awareness-raising activities to mobilize public opinion in favor of the abolition of the death penalty.” Other countries, such as Argentina and Ukraine, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the importance of public engagement as a vital step toward the eventual abolition of capital punishment. 

Kenya: Reforming Domestic Law

Kenya received 27 recommendations related to the death penalty, and 14 of them were related to the ratification of OP2. Several recommendations focused on amending domestic law to formally abolish the death penalty. Indeed, countries such as Estonia and Luxembourg specifically called for Kenya to formally abolish the death penalty by amending the Penal Code, underscoring the urgency for Kenya to align its domestic law with international human rights norms.

Kuwait: The Push for a Moratorium

Kuwait received 29 recommendations, with a significant emphasis on establishing a moratorium on the death penalty. Nineteen recommendations focused on urging Kuwait to take immediate steps toward halting executions. Recommendations ranged from those calling for a de facto moratorium to those advocating for a full abolition of the death penalty. For instance, the United Kingdom recommended that Kuwait “return to a position of non-application of the death penalty,” while Uruguay and the Marshall Islands called for a moratorium on executions as a first step toward abolition. 

Lao PDR: Reducing the Scope of the Death Penalty

The Lao People’s Democratic Republic received 23 death penalty recommendations, with a strong emphasis on reducing the number of offences punishable by death. Seven recommendations highlighted the importance of narrowing the scope of capital punishment, with specific calls for the decriminalization of certain offences. Spain, for example, recommended that Lao PDR “definitively abolish the death penalty in line with the existing de facto moratorium,” while Australia called for a reduction in “the number of crimes punishable by death, including drug offences.” 

Lesotho: Maintaining a Moratorium While Pursuing Abolition

Lesotho received 13 recommendations, seven of which were related to the ratification of OP2. Slovenia and Spain called for the country to continue to maintain the current de facto moratorium on executions while taking steps toward the formal abolition of the death penalty. These recommendations reflect the international community’s support for Lesotho’s current stance while encouraging the country to formalize its commitment to international human rights standards.

L’article 49th UPR Session Highlights Continued Calls for the Respect of International Human Rights Standards est apparu en premier sur WCADP.

Global trend towards abolition in 2024

Developments in 2024 confirmed that the use of the death penalty is reserved to an ever-increasing minority. For the second consecutive year, Amnesty International recorded executions in the lowest number of countries – 15.

On 31 December, President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe signed into law a bill that abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes. Earlier in the month, Zambia, which fully repealed the death penalty in 2023, made abolition irreversible by ratifying the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty. Together with the adoption by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights of its fifth resolution calling for a moratorium on executions, these advances indicated that Africa remained the beacon of hope of abolition.

Progress in other countries also showed that, with continued advocacy, it is just a matter of time before the death penalty will be fully abolished globally. The abolition of the mandatory death penalty in Malaysia in 2023 and a subsequent resentencing process led to a reduction by more than 1,000 in the number of people at risk of execution. 

Outgoing US President Biden commuted the death sentences of 37 out of 40 people on federal death row; and Roy Cooper, then Governor of North Carolina, commuted 15 death sentences as the year ended, among other notable reductions.

In December, a vote of the tenth General Assembly resolution on a moratorium on the use of the death penalty saw for the first time more than two thirds of all UN member states voting in favour. Support for this resolution has continued to increase since the first of these resolutions was adopted in 2007, demonstrating that states are steadily moving closer to rejecting the death penalty as a lawful punishment under international human rights law.

Furthermore, the world witnessed the power of campaigning. Hakamada Iwao – who spent nearly five decades on death row in Japan – was acquitted in September 2024. 

“When people prioritize campaigning for an end to the death penalty, it really does work,” said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General. “Despite the minority of leaders determined to weaponize the death penalty, the tide is turning. It’s only a matter of time until the world is free from the shadows of the gallows.”

1,518 executions were recorded in 2024, 91% in just 3 countries: Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia

The known totals did not include thousands of people believed to have been executed in China, which remained the world’s lead executioner; and North Korea and Viet Nam, countries believed to continue to carry out executions extensively but where access to information is restricted.

In 2024, the death penalty remained a prominent tool used by several governments to exert control on the population and stifle dissent, particularly targeting human rights defenders, protesters, dissidents, and political opponents, and having a disproportionate impact on those belonging to ethnic or religious minorities and from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds. Over 40% of 2024’s executions were carried out unlawfully for drug-related offences.

L’article For a world free from the shadows of the gallows est apparu en premier sur WCADP.

Gambia: Hope for a Constitutional Review Toward Abolition

Out of the eleven countries recommending the abolition of the death penalty in Gambia, five recognized the ongoing efforts of the country currently engaged in a constitutional and legal reform process. With a view to abolishing capital punishment, the Draft Constitution is currently before the National Assembly.

Fiji: Call to Ratify OP2-ICCPR

The country, which has abolished the death penalty for all crime in 2015 and has been a target country for the World Coalition’s ratification campaign, received 6 recommendations from countries like Chile, Iceland and Mongolia to ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (OP2-ICCPR). Fiji has also expressed it would welcome a visit from the Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers.

Iran: A noticeable increase of death penalty-related recommendations since the last cycle

During the 3^rd cycle, 39 countries issued 40 recommendations. This cycle around, 46 countries issued 52 recommendations. Additionally, a dozen of them centered specifically juvenile offenders like Belgium’s recommendation to “adopt a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty at least for crimes committed by persons under 18, in accordance with Iran’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child”.

Iraq: The Push for Public Debate on the Death Penalty

Iraq’s UPR review saw a continued focus on the death penalty as demonstrated by the 31 related recommendations issued this cycle, which is close to the number of recommendations issued during the last cycle. An emphasis on promoting public discourse and awareness can be observed, as illustrated by Lithuania’s recommendation to “Promote public debate and public awareness campaigns on the complete abolition of the death penalty.” 

Egypt: Encouraging Gradual Reform

In addition to calls to abolish the death penalty and ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Egypt received 31 recommendations suggesting a gradual approach. During the 3^rd cycle, Egypt had received 28 death penalty-related recommendations. For example, Guinea recommended to “continue efforts to review the framework of crimes punishable by death in line with the objectives of the National Human Rights Strategy.” Similarly, Chile suggested Egypt to “reduce the number of crimes punishable by death and encourage public debate on its moratorium.”

The Gambia, Fiji, Iran, Iraq, and Egypt have until the next Human Rights Council session in June-July 2025 to indicate if they accept or “note” these recommendations.

L’article 48th UPR Session Highlights Growing Calls for Death Penalty Reform est apparu en premier sur WCADP.