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The Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, is a subsidiary agreement to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It was created on 15 December 1989 and entered into force on 11 July 1991. As of July 2024, the Optional Protocol has 91 state parties. The most recent country to ratify was Cote D'Ivoire, on 3 May 2024.
Capital punishment in Angola was abolished by constitution in 1992. In 1977, the country carried out its last executions, which were of Nito Alves and many of his supporters, who were convicted of treason. The execution method in Angola was by firing squad. Angola signed the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on September 24, 2013, and ratified it on October 2, 2019. Angola voted in favor of the UN moratorium on the death penalty in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and most recently in 2020.
Capital punishment in Chile is legally sanctioned, albeit with significant limitations. Since its abolition for civilian offenses in 2001, its application has been restricted to military personnel convicted of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during wartime. This places Chile among the seven countries globally that have abolished capital punishment solely for ordinary crimes.
Capital punishment is a legal penalty in El Salvador. It was abolished in 1983 by Article 27 of the constitution, with an exception allowed for crimes committed under military law during a state of international war. Because of this, El Salvador is one of seven countries considered "Abolitionist for Ordinary Crimes," along with Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chile, Guatemala, Israel, and Peru. El Salvador last carried out an execution in 1973.
Capital punishment is a legal penalty in Grenada. Despite its legality, there have been no executions since 1978. Grenada is considered "abolitionist in practice", and is currently the only country in the Americas in this category. There is currently one person on death row in Grenada, as of August 30, 2021. During its United Nations Universal Periodic Review on January 27, 2020, Grenada informed the UN that it was a de facto abolitionist state with a de facto moratorium in effect since 1978, and that it would not carry out any executions. Abolishing capital punishment in law was part of one of the amendments during the failed 2016 Grenadian constitutional referendum. Grenada voted against the United Nations moratorium on the death penalty in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and most recently, in 2020. Grenada is not a signatory to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Capital punishment is abolished in Argentina and is no longer a lawful punishment in the country. Argentina abolished capital punishment for ordinary crimes in 1984 and abolished it for all crimes in 2008, supported by the president at the time, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. Argentina voted in favor of the United Nations moratorium on the death penalty eight times, in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020. Argentina signed the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on 20 Dec 2006 and ratified it on 2 Sep 2008.
Capital punishment has been abolished in Bolivia and is no longer a lawful punishment in the country. It was abolished for ordinary crimes in 1997, and for all crimes in 2009. Bolivia's last execution was of Melquiades Suxo on 30 August 1973.
Capital punishment was abolished in Colombia by constitution in 1910. In prohibiting the death penalty, the Colombian Constitution of 1991 states "The right to life is inviolable. There will be no death penalty." The last person to be legally executed in Colombia was Manuel Saturio Valencia by firing squad on 5 May 1907 for arson.
Capital punishment is a legal penalty in Liberia. However, Liberia is classified as a state that is "abolitionist in practice." Liberia last executed in 2000.
Capital punishment was abolished in Burundi on 24 April 2009. Burundi is not a state party to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The last legal execution in Burundi took place in 1997.
Capital punishment was abolished in the Republic of the Congo in 2015. The country carried out its last execution in 1982. Before the abolition of the death penalty, the Republic of the Congo was classified as "Abolitionist in Practice." The Republic of the Congo is not a state party to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Capital punishment was abolished in Djibouti in 1995. There have been no executions in Djibouti since independence from France on 27 June 1977. The country acceded to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on 5 November 2002.
Capital punishment was abolished in Guinea. The civilian death penalty was abolished in 2016. It was abolished under military law in 2017. Guinea carried out its last execution in 2001. Prior to its abolition for ordinary crimes in 2016, Guinea was classified as retentionist.
Capital punishment was abolished in Guinea-Bissau in 1993. The country carried out its last execution in 1986. In February 1993, the National People's Assembly (Guinea-Bissau) passed an amendment to the constitution which abolished the death penalty for aggravated murder and treason.
Capital punishment was abolished in Madagascar in 2015. The last execution in Madagascar was carried out in 1958. Prior to de jure abolition, Madagascar was classified as "Abolitionist in Practice."
Capital punishment was abolished in Mauritius in 1995, following the adoption of the Abolition of Death Penalty Act 1995. The last execution was carried out in Mauritius in 1987.
Capital punishment was abolished in Mozambique in 1990. The last execution took place in the country in 1986.
Capital punishment was abolished in Namibia in 1990. The last execution was carried out in 1988, under the rule of South Africa.
Capital punishment was abolished in Senegal in 2004. The country carried out its last execution in 1967.
Capital punishment was abolished in Togo in 2009. The country carried out its last execution in 1978. Prior to the death penalty's de jure abolition, Togo was classified as "Abolitionist in Practice."
References
- ↑ "Abolitionist and retentionist countries (as of July 2018)". Amnesty International. 23 October 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
- ↑ "12. Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty". United Nations Treaty Collection. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
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