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Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty and formerly called judicial homicide, is the state-sanctioned practice of killing a person as a punishment for a crime, usually following an authorised, rule-governed process to conclude that the person is responsible for violating norms that warrant said punishment. The sentence ordering that an offender be punished in such a manner is known as a death sentence, and the act of carrying out the sentence is known as an execution. A prisoner who has been sentenced to death and awaits execution is condemned and is commonly referred to as being "on death row". Etymologically, the term capital refers to execution by beheading, but executions are carried out by many methods, including hanging, shooting, lethal injection, stoning, electrocution, and gassing.
Capital punishment, also called the death penalty, is the state-sanctioned killing of a person as a punishment for a crime. It has historically been used in almost every part of the world. By the 2020s, many countries had abolished or discontinued the practice. In 2022, the 5 countries that executed the most people were, in descending order: China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United States.
At Italy's instigation, a resolution for a moratorium on the death penalty was presented by the EU in partnership with eight co-author member States to the General Assembly of the United Nations, calling for general suspension of capital punishment throughout the world. It was twice affirmed: first, on 15 November 2007 by the Third Committee, and then subsequently reaffirmed on 18 December by the United Nations General Assembly resolution 62/149. New Zealand played a central role facilitating agreement between the co-author group and other supporters.
Capital punishment is a legal penalty in Guatemala, and is carried out by lethal injection and, to a lesser extent, the firing squad. It is only in military codes of justice, and was abolished for civilian offences in October 2017.
Capital punishment in Nauru was used prior to its independence in 1968. Prior to the abolition of capital punishment on 12 May 2016, with the passage of the Crimes Act 2016, Amnesty International categorised Nauru as abolitionist in practice.
Capital punishment in Brunei Darussalam is a legal penalty of death, applicable to a number of violent and non-violent crimes in the Sultanate. Along with offences such as murder, terrorism, and treason, other crimes have become liable to the death penalty since the phased introduction of sharia from 2014. This includes homosexual activity since April 2019. Legal methods of execution in Brunei are hanging and, since 2014, stoning. The last execution in Brunei occurred in 1957, while it was still a British Protectorate.
Capital punishment in Lesotho is legal. However, despite not having any official death penalty moratorium in place, the country has not carried out any executions since the 1990s and is therefore considered de facto abolitionist.
Capital punishment is a legal penalty in Algeria. Despite its legality, the last executions in the country were carried out in 1993, of seven unnamed Islamic terrorists. Due to its prolonged moratorium on executions, Algeria is considered to be "Abolitionist in Practice."
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 told the UN that it is a de facto abolitionist state with a de facto moratorium with effect since 1978, and that it will 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 member state of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Capital punishment is a legal penalty in Oman. Oman's capital offenses are murder, drug trafficking, arson, piracy, terrorism, kidnapping, recidivism of aggravated offenses punishable by life imprisonment, leading an armed group that engages in spreading disorder, espionage, treason and perjury causing wrongful execution. Oman's last executions occurred in 2021. Oman voted against the United Nations moratorium on the death penalty in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020.
Capital punishment is a legal penalty in Myanmar. It is classified as "Retentionist." Before 25 July 2022, Myanmar was considered "Abolitionist in Practice," meaning a country has not executed anyone in the past ten years or more and is believed to have an established practice or policy against carrying out executions. Between 1988 and 2022, no legal executions were carried out in the country. In July 2022, four democratic activists, including Zayar Thaw and Kyaw Min Yu, were executed.
Capital punishment is a legal penalty in Eritrea. The execution methods allowed under the law of the country are hanging and shooting. However, Eritrea is considered "Abolitionist in Practice." Eritrea's last execution took place in 1989. There is currently no one under sentence of death in Eritrea. Eritrea voted in favor of the 2020 United Nations moratorium on the death penalty.
Capital punishment is a legal penalty in Guyana. Despite its legality, no executions have been carried out since 1997. However, due to a lack of "an established practice or policy against carrying out executions," Guyana is classified as "Retentionist." Guyana is the only country in South America that retains capital punishment for ordinary crimes.
Capital punishment, or death penalty, is no longer a legal punishment in Equatorial Guinea.
Capital punishment is a legal penalty in Mauritania. However, the country is considered "Abolitionist in Practice" due to having a moratorium on executions since 1987. Mauritania last executed in 1987.
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 26 July 2022.
- ↑ "The Death Penalty in Zimbabwe". Death Penalty Worldwide. Archived from the original on 22 August 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ↑ "UN Resolution for a Universal Moratorium on the Use of the Death Penalty" (PDF). Ensemble contre la peine de mort. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
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