International Commission Against the Death Penalty

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The International Commission against the Death Penalty (ICDP) was founded in Madrid in October 2010, [1] [2] as a result of a Spanish initiative. [3] ICDP is an independent body composed of Commissioners of high standing who have experience in international law and human rights, and are committed to achieving the universal abolition of capital punishment. Their experience, background, geographical representation and personal involvement in abolishing the death penalty enables them to engage with senior officials from different countries.

Contents

Support Group

The Commission is supported by a diverse group of countries representing all regions of the world. They are united in opposing capital punishment in all circumstances, and urge for the immediate establishment of a universal moratorium [3] on executions as a step towards total abolition of the death penalty.

ICDP Commissioners

Work and country missions

The work of ICDP is varied: letters and statements [8] about specific cases are issued urging states not to carry out executions and condemning executions carried out. [9] [10] ICDP organizes and attends meetings and events to promote the abolition of the death penalty. [8] [11]

ICDP conducts country missions (California and Delaware in the US, Japan, Suriname, Tajikistan, Tunisia and Lebanon, among others) and engage dialogue with different stakeholders [11] [12] working on the abolition, such as NGOs, government representatives, and members of parliament. For example, Commissioner Ruth Dreifuss visited Tajikistan in 2011 and 2013 "to advocate for full abolition of the death penalty in the national law". [13] [14] Several reports and opinion pieces have been published by ICDP, including a report on how States abolish the death penalty "which reviews the processes towards abolition of capital punishment" in a wide range of countries. [15]

Related Research Articles

Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty and formerly called judicial homicide, is the state-sanctioned killing of a person as punishment for actual or supposed misconduct. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capital punishment by country</span>

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. Since the mid-19th century many countries have abolished or discontinued the practice. In 2022, the five countries that executed the most people were, in descending order, China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Badinter</span> French politician, lawyer and author (1928–2024)

Robert Badinter was a French lawyer, politician, and author who enacted the abolition of the death penalty in France in 1981, while serving as Minister of Justice under François Mitterrand. He also served in high-level appointed positions with national and international bodies working for justice and the rule of law.

Capital punishment is a legal penalty in China. It is applicable to offenses ranging from murder to drug trafficking. Executions are carried out by lethal injection or by shooting. A survey conducted by TheNew York Times in 2014 found the death penalty retained widespread support in Chinese society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capital punishment in Belarus</span>

Capital punishment is a legal penalty in Belarus. At least one execution was carried out in the country in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capital punishment in Europe</span>

Capital punishment has been completely abolished in all European countries except for Belarus and Russia, the latter of which has a moratorium and has not carried out an execution since September 1996. The complete ban on capital punishment is enshrined in both the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (EU) and two widely adopted protocols of the European Convention on Human Rights of the Council of Europe, and is thus considered a central value. Of all modern European countries, San Marino, Portugal, and the Netherlands were the first to abolish capital punishment, whereas only Belarus still practises capital punishment in some form or another. In 2012, Latvia became the last EU member state to abolish capital punishment in wartime.

Capital punishment is a legal penalty in Pakistan. Although there have been numerous amendments to the Constitution, there is yet to be a provision prohibiting the death penalty as a punitive remedy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philip Alston</span> Australian law scholar

Philip Geoffrey Alston is an Australian international law scholar and human rights practitioner. He is John Norton Pomeroy Professor of Law at New York University School of Law, and co-chair of the law school's Center for Human Rights and Global Justice. In human rights law, Alston has held a range of senior UN appointments for over two decades, including United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, a position he held from August 2004 to July 2010, and UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights from 2014-2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Resolutions concerning death penalty at the United Nations</span> United Nations General Assembly resolution first adopted 2007

At Italy's instigation, a resolution for a moratorium on the death penalty was presented by the European Union 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 approved on 15 November 2007 by the Third Committee, and then subsequently adopted 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capital punishment in Nepal</span>

Capital punishment in Nepal has been abolished.

Capital punishment in Peru was last used in 1979. In the same year, the death penalty was abolished for ordinary crimes. Peru is one of seven countries that has abolished capital punishment for "ordinary crimes only." Peru voted in favor of the United Nations moratorium on the death penalty in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2020. Peru is not a signatory to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Capital punishment remains a legal penalty for multiple crimes in the Gambia. However, the country has taken recent steps towards abolishing the death penalty.

Capital punishment is a legal penalty in South Sudan. It is covered under the Penal Code Act of South Sudan and allows for executions of individuals in the event of convictions for numerous crimes, including murder and terrorism. The sentences can be imposed by either civilian courts or the military. Between 2011 and 2018, at least 140 people have been put to death in South Sudan with hundreds more awaiting their sentence on death row, though due to a lack of reporting within the country exact numbers remain unknown. The country has faced criticism from international rights groups and multinational organizations for its use of capital punishment on juveniles. Not a party to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, South Sudan remains one of sub-Saharan Africa's largest users of the death penalty.

Capital punishment has been abolished in Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone abolished capital punishment in July 2021 following a decision by the nation's Parliament.

Capital punishment is no longer a legal punishment in Rwanda. The death penalty was abolished in the country in 2007.

Capital punishment was abolished for all crimes in Chad on April 28, 2020, following a unanimous vote by the National Assembly of Chad. Prior to April 2020, Chad's 003/PR/2020 "anti-terrorism" law maintained capital punishment for terrorism-related offenses. Chad's new penal code, which was adopted in 2014 and promulgated in 2017, had abolished capital punishment for all other crimes.

Capital punishment in Burkina Faso has been abolished. In late May 2018, the National Assembly of Burkina Faso adopted a new penal code that omitted the death penalty as a sentencing option, thereby abolishing the death penalty for all crimes.

Capital punishment is a legal penalty in Uganda. The death penalty was likely last carried out in 1999, although some sources say the last execution in Uganda took place in 2005. Regardless, Uganda is interchangeably considered a retentionist state with regard to capital punishment, due to absence of "an established practice or policy against carrying out executions," as well as a de facto abolitionist state due to the lack of any executions for over one decade.

Capital punishment in Gabon was officially abolished for all crimes in 2010. Gabon's last execution took place in 1985. Prior to abolition, Gabon was classified as de facto abolitionist, or "abolitionist in practice," due to the length of time since their last execution.

Ethiopia retains capital punishment while not ratified the Second Optional Protocol (ICCR) of UN General Assembly resolution. Historically, capital punishments was codified under Fetha Negest in order to fulfill societal desire. Death penalty can be applied through approval of the President, but executions are rare.

References

  1. ↑ "Queda constituida la Comisión Internacional contra Pena de Muerte". Archived from the original on 2014-03-15. Retrieved 2014-05-18.
  2. ↑ "Abolition of the Death Penalty – New 'De Facto' Millennium Goal | Inter Press Service". Ipsnews.net. 2010-10-07. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  3. 1 2 "The Death Penalty in the OSCE Area: Background Paper 2011". OSCE. 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  4. ↑ "Louise Arbour Extended Biography". Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved May 18, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Calls for end to death penalty". Ohchr.org. 2012-07-03. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  6. ↑ "Ex-N.M. Gov. Richardson pushes death penalty repeal in Del". Delaware Newszap. 2014-04-06. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  7. ↑ "State House delays vote on Markell tax increases". Delaware Newszap. 2014-03-25. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  8. 1 2 "The Death Penalty in the OSCE Area: Background Paper 2012". OSCE. 2012-09-26. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  9. ↑ "Outrage Across Ideological Spectrum in Europe over Flawed Lethal Injection in US". The New York Times . Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  10. ↑ "Edgar Tamayo Arias News: International Commission Against The Death Penalty Condemns Planned Execution". Latintimes.com. 19 January 2014. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  11. 1 2 "Where global solutions are shaped for you | News & Media | HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL HOLDS HIGH-LEVEL PANEL DISCUSSION ON THE QUESTION OF THE DEATH PENALTY". Unog.ch. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  12. ↑ "Working Group on Death Penalty and Extra-Judicial, Summary or Arbitrary killings in Africa / Intersession Activity Reports / 50th Ordinary Session / ACHPR". Achpr.org. Archived from the original on 2015-01-02. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  13. ↑ "The Death Penalty in the OSCE Area: Background Paper 2013". OSCE. 2013-10-02. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  14. ↑ "Meeting with member of the International Commission against the Death Penalty Ruth Dreifuss » "Khovar" - National Information Agency of Tajikistan". Khovar.tj. 2010-03-22. Archived from the original on 2014-05-18. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
  15. ↑ "Human Rights Documents". Ap.ohchr.org. Retrieved 2015-03-06.
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