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Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty, is a state-sanctioned practice of killing a person as a punishment for a crime. The sentence ordering that an offender is to 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".
The following is a summary of the use of capital punishment by country. Globally, of the 195 independent states that are UN members or have UN observer status, 109 countries have completely abolished it de jure for all crimes, 7 have abolished it for ordinary crimes and 24 are abolitionist in practice, while 55 countries retain capital punishment.
Capital punishment is a legal penalty in Belarus. At least four executions were carried out in the country in 2018.
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 conducted 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 in modern Greece was carried out using the guillotine or by firing squad. It was last applied in 1972 during the military junta, and the death penalty was abolished in stages between 1975 and 2005.
At Italy's instigation, the UN moratorium on the death penalty resolution 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.
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 April 2022, the Optional Protocol has 90 state parties. The most recent country to ratify was Kazakhstan, on 24 March 2022.
Capital punishment is no longer applied in San Marino: the last execution was carried out in 1468 or in 1667, by hanging.
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 member state to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Capital punishment in Luxembourg was abolished for all crimes in 1979.
Capital punishment has been abolished in Seychelles. The country permanently abolished the death penalty by a Constitutional amendment in June 1993.
Capital punishment in Angola was abolished by constitution in 1992. In 1977, it performed 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, 2020.
Capital punishment is a legal penalty in Chile. It was abolished for civilian offenses in 2001 and is now only in the military code of justice. It remains applicable to military personnel for war crimes and crimes against humanity during wartime. Chile is one of seven countries that has abolished capital punishment "for ordinary crimes only." The method of execution is shooting. The last executions in Chile were of Carlos Topp Collins and Jorge Sagredo, on January 29, 1985, by firearm.
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's last execution was 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 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 has been abolished in Bolivia. 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 has been abolished in Paraguay. It was abolished in the year 1992 by the constitution. The last execution in Paraguay was in 1928.
Capital punishment is a legal penalty in Liberia. However, Liberia is classified as "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.
Capital punishment was abolished in Djibouti in 1995. There have been no executions in Djibouti since independence. The country acceded to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights on 5 November 2002.
References
- ↑ "Abolitionist and retentionist countries (as of July 2018)". Amnesty International.
- ↑ "United Nations Treaty Collection". treaties.un.org.
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