Abolish the death penalty

Moratorium on executions now!

In October 2008, the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly will debate the death penalty and the implementation of the 2007 UNGA resolution calling for a moratorium on executions.
Learn more about the UNGA resolution on the death penalty.

The death penalty is the ultimate denial of human rights. It is the premeditated and cold-blooded killing of a human being by the state. This cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment is done in the name of justice.

It violates the right to life as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception regardless of the nature of the crime, the characteristics of the offender, or the method used by the state to kill the prisoner.

News & actions

News & actions

UN Building, New York

UN reinforces call to end executions

20 November 2008

Over 100 countries have adopted a second United Nations resolution calling for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty.  

Majority support expected in UN vote on death penalty moratorium

19 November 2008

A large majority of states from all regions are expected to back a second resolution by the UN General Assembly (Third Committee) on Thursday, calling for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty.
President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, in Kabul, 8 July 2003

Afghanistan moves towards a wide use of executions

13 November 2008

The Afghan government executed nine people last week. President Hamid Karzai has recently approved death sentences for at least another 111.
Execution by firing squad in Viet Nam

Death penalty in Viet Nam – proposed reforms a welcome step towards abolition

10 November 2008

The government of Viet Nam has proposed to remove the death sentence on a range of offences.
Supporters of Barack Obama after a 'Stand for change' rally, 2008

President-elect Obama: 100 days to demonstrate commitment to human rights

5 November 2008

Amnesty International is calling on US president elect Barack Obama to take concrete steps to demonstrate commitment to human rights.
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Trend towards abolition

Trend towards abolition

No of countries that carried out executions

Amnesty International monitors developments around the application of the death penalty worldwide. The graph above is based on figures that Amnesty International publishes every year.