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AfricaThe campaign for the abolition of the death penalty on the African continent
The World Coalition, FIACAT, FIDH and Ditshwanelo have partnered in a project that vectors the main objective of contributing to the abolition of the death penalty in sub-Saharan Africa.
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The African continent is part of the international movement towards universal abolition. In 1990, only one country had abolished the death penalty: Cape Verde. Today, out of the 54 States Members of the African Union, 20 have abolished the death penalty in law, 18 no longer execute those sentenced to death, 38 countries are therefore abolitionist in law or in practice and 16 States still retain the death penalty as a punishment. The Republic of Congo and Madagascar abolished the capital punishment in 2015 and Guinea was the last African country to join the list of abolitionist countries on 4 July, 2016.
The dynamics of the African continent and of its civil society as regards to the abolition of the death penalty is what motivated the WCADP and its partners to launch the project “Contributing to the abolition of the death penalty on the African continent”. Since 2015 the World Coalition against the Death Penalty, along with its member organisations FIACAT and FIDH and its partner Ditshwanelo, engaged in a campaign that has three main components:
1- Strengthening the African civil society
The World Coalition and its partners have focused on supporting its members by improving the lobbying and advocacy skills of African civil society organisations on their path towards the abolition of the death penalty. To achieve this they have:
- Created a mailing list for all the partner organisations in sub-Saharan Africa to share information on the death penalty in Africa, but also on the work of their organisations.
- Helped the World Coalition’s member organisations in Africa to apply for funding.
- Partnered with the Cornell University for a training for capital defence lawyers focused on common law jurisdictions in Africa.
- Invited partner organisations from the African continent to participate to the 6th World Congress against the death penalty in Oslo, Norway, where a round table was dedicated to the draft Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples Right’s on the abolition of the death penalty in Africa.
- Called for action and initiatives on World Day against the Death Penalty.
- Created a manual for civil society based on good practices
2- Supporting the adoption of an African protocol
In April 2015, at its 56th ordinary session, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) put the abolition of the death penalty at the heart of its debates and adopted a draft regional treaty to help African Union member states to move away from capital punishment: a draft Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ rights on the Abolition of the Death Penalty in Africa.
The World Coalition against the Death Penalty along with its partners FIACAT, FIDH and Ditshwanelo as well as the Working group on the death penalty have been working relentlessly to seek support for the adoption of this regional treaty by the African Union, but also, for the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR.
> Click here for more information on the draft Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ rights on the Abolition of the Death Penalty in Africa.
> Read our articles on the Ratification of the Second Optional Protocol by Togo and by São Tomé.
3- Strengthening the work of the Working Group on the Death Penalty of the African Commission of Human and Peoples’ rights.
The Working Group on the death penalty was set up in 2005 at the 38th Session of the ACHPR and its mandate was expanded in 2012 to include issues of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary killings. The Working Group is composed of three commissioners and five experts and is chaired by Commissioner Sylvie Kayitesi.
The Working Group of the ACHPR has committed to the abolition of the death penalty in the African continent trough different actions such as urgent appeals, press releases and seeking support for the adoption of the draft Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Several civil society organisations from Africa have been invited to the 58th and 59th Ordinary Sessions of the ACHPR, where the Working Group on the death penalty and extrajudicial executions has organised a panel on the death penalty and called upon the African states to take steps for the abolition of the capital punishment.
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AfricaParliamentarians from French-speaking Africa commit to the abolition of the death penalty
Against the background of the drafting of a new Constitution in Burkina Faso including an article on the abolition of the death penalty, ECPM, the FIACAT and the Burkinabé Parliament have organised a regional parliamentary seminar in Ouagadougou on the death penalty in French-speaking countries of sub-Saharan Africa. The last known execution in Burkina Faso dates back to 1988, making it an abolitionist country in practice.
Article by Jessica Corredor published on January 17th, 2017 -
ProtocolSão Tomé and Príncipe ratifies OP2 and approves total and definitive abolition of the death penalty
On 10 January 2017, São Tomé and Príncipe ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty and became its 84th State party.
Article by Elise Guillot published on January 18th, 2017 -
AfricaTowards the abolition of the death penalty in DRC: advances to be confirmed
To date, the Democratic Republic of the Congo maintains the death penalty in its legislation. The proponents of the capital punishment argue that it remains an efficient tool for deterrence in general as well as a solution to the recurring criminal phenomenon hitting the country’s Eastern part.
Article by Olivier LUNGWE FATAKI - Pax Christi Uvira published on December 13th, 2016 -
African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Renewed calls for the abolition of the death penalty at the NGO forum and the 59th Session of the ACHPR
At the end of October, the civil society gathered for the NGO Forum preceding the 59th African Commission for Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR): an occasion to put the death penalty on the agenda of the African Commission and to make the calls for the abolition heard. Nonetheless, difficulties on the path towards the abolition in the African continent remain.
Article by Jessica Corredor published on November 25th, 2016 -
World DayAfrica raises its voice against the death penalty
Many African organizations and institutions raised their voices on the occasion of the 14th World Day against the Death Penalty, whose last edition, celebrated on October 10, was dedicated to the use of death penalty for terrorism-related crimes.
Article by Tiziana Trotta published on October 21st, 2016 -
African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights 58th Extraordinary Session of the ACHPR: a strong commitment of African states to a treaty providing the abolition of the death penalty
In April 2016, the issue of death penalty in Africa was disscussed during the 58th Extraordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
Article by Guillaume Colin published on April 14th, 2016 -
AfricaAfrican Commission adopts draft Protocol on abolition
At its 56th ordinary session, the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) put the abolition of the death penalty at the heart of its debates and adopted a draft regional treaty to help African Union member states move away from capital punishment.
Article by Maria Donatelli published on April 24th, 2015 -
AfricaIn Cameroon, the abolitionist network grows
For the first time in Cameroon, the Cameroonian organization Droits et Paix, in partnership with the French association Ensemble contre la peine de mort, held a conference and a training session on the death penalty in Yaounde.
Article by Nestor Toko and Jessica Corredor published on October 28th, 2016 -
AfricaAbolition of the death penalty in Guinea
Guinean Parliament put an end to Guinea's de facto moratorium by abolishing the death penalty in law in this country.
Article by Marion Gauer published on July 05th, 2016 -
AfricaThe abolitionists’ forum in Niger: a great success
The first Nigerien abolitionists’ forum on the death penalty was held in Niamey on November 4 and 5, 2016. The NGO Réseau progrès et développement humanitaire du Niger (REPRODEVH-NIGER) and the Nigerien Coalition Against the Death Penalty organised the event, which was sponsored by the Ministry of Justice, the National Commission on Human Rights and the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty. The initiative met with great success.
Article by Garba Illou Almoctar and Elise Guillot published on November 22nd, 2016 -
AfricaPardon Prisoners On Death Row
At the end of October, the death sentences of more than 2,500 prisoners were commuted by the Kenyan President. The presidential power of mercy was also recently exercised by the Zimbabwean President, where 10 death row prisoners were pardoned.
Article by Lucy Peace Nantume published on November 08th, 2016 -
AfricaInnocent and Sentenced to Die: Wrongful Incarceration on Nigeria's Death Row
To bring an end to the use of the death penalty in Nigeria, N-Map partnered with the Legal Defense and Assistance Project (LEDAP), a leading Nigerian criminal justice NGO, to create a media advocacy campaign for legislative reform to outlaw the use of the death penalty as a punishment. The campaign focuses on the staggering amount of innocent men who are sentenced to die for crimes they did not commit.
Video published on October 14th, 2016 -
ProtocolACAT-CI commits to the ratification of OP2 in Côte d’Ivoire
Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture in Côte d’Ivoire (ACAT CI) has conducted advocacy activities between May and November 2016 in order to raise awareness on the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (OP2), aiming at the abolition of the death penalty. This project has been supported by the International Organisation of la Francophonie (OIF) and the International Federation of ACAT (FIACAT).
Article by N'guettia Yves Arsene Kouadio - ACAT Côte d'Ivoire published on January 04th, 2017 -
Good NewsTanzania: President Magufuli declares his position against the death penalty.
While officiating the new Chief Justice at the State House, the President of Tanzania, President Magufuli, expressed his support towards the abolitionist movement by refusing to sign any future death warrant. For the Tanzanian Coalition Against the Death Penalty, this statement is an unhoped opportunity to ask for the complete abolition of the death penalty in the country.
Article by Thalia Gerzso published on September 20th, 2017 -
Good NewsGambia and Madagascar commit to irreversible abolition
On 20 and 21 September 2017, Gambia signed and Madagascar ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty.
Article by Aurelie Placais published on September 22nd, 2017 -
Democratic Republic of the Congo: the abolitionists organize workshops for journalists
Concerned by the population’s view on the death penalty, the Human Rights Defenders and Abolitionist Advocates in Democratic Republic of the Congo Network [Réseau des associations de défense des droits de l’homme et militants abolitionnistes de la peine de mort en République Démocratique du Congo (RADHOMA)] organized several training courses for journalists in the past few months.
Article by Thalia Gerzso published on September 25th, 2017 -
AfricaMakwanyane Institute Is Launched at Cornell Law School
Fifteen capital defense lawyers from eight African countries arrived at Cornell Law School on June 12 to begin eight days of training on how best to represent death penalty clients in the first session of the Makwanyane Institute.
Article by Sherrie Negrea, Cornell Law School published on July 17th, 2017 -
AfricaToward the abolition in Cameroon
Despite Africa’s march towards abolition, considered by many as the next abolitionist continent, Cameroon continues to withstand the abolitionist trend. Cameroon is the biggest executioner among French speaking countries in Africa, and the seventh country - on a global scale - with the largest number of death sentences: 160 in 2016, according to Amnesty International.
Article by Lorène du Crest et Nicolas Perron published on July 06th, 2017 -
African Commission on Human and Peoples' RightsA major abolitionist gathering for the 60th ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights in Niger
The work of the 60th ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) took place in Niger between the 8th and the 22th of May. Invited by SYNAFEN, one of its members, the World Coalition took this opportunity to gather in the margins of the ACHPR session.
Article by Jessica Corredor published on May 19th, 2017 -
Report12 Years Without an Execution: Is Zimbabwe Ready for Abolition?
The Death Penalty Project, in partnership with Veritas, launches “12 Years Without an Execution: Is Zimbabwe Ready for Abolition?” a national public opinion study, providing for the first time comprehensive and contextualised data on public attitudes towards the death penalty in Zimbabwe – a country that has not carried out any executions in over 12 years.
Article by Death Penalty Project published on May 24th, 2018 -
ACHPRThe death penalty at the heart of the debates of the 62nd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
The 62nd Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR), the African Union body responsible for the promotion and protection of human rights in Africa, was held from April 25th to May 9th, 2018 in Nouakchott, Mauritania. The death penalty was at the heart of the debates throughout this Session, during panel discussions, side-events or during the review of the State’s periodic reports.
Article by Guillaume Colin - Jessica Corredor published on May 15th, 2018 -
Joint StatementMandatory Death Penalty for Blasphemy in Mauritania
Through this joint statement twenty one national and international NGOs, calls upon Mauritanian authorities to reverse the recent adoption of a law on apostasy related crimes making the death penalty mandatory for blasphemy.
Article by World Coalition Against the death penalty published on May 11th, 2018 -
Report“Unknown Assailants: A Threat to Human Rights”
So is named The Tanzania Human Rights Report of 2017 released by the Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC). This report was published on April 25th, 2018 and it enlights for the fifteenth time the major human rights violations in Tanzania. This report, while it deals with human rights violation in Tanzania concerning civil and politial rights, freedom of violence, freedom of expression, also presents the death penalty as an issue in the coutnry and called the President for its abolition.
Article by Legal Human Rights Centre published on May 04th, 2018 -
Regional Congress“It’s in Africa that we find the strongest dynamics towards abolition”
The third regional Congress against the death penalty was held in Côte d’Ivoire, in Abidjan, in 2018 from April 9 to 10th. This is a natural choice when one can know that Africa is named “next abolitionist continent” and that civil society recognized it as such.
Article by Clémentine Etienne published on April 24th, 2018 -
StatementWorld Coalition welcomes the success of the Regional Congress in Africa
The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty held its Steering Committee meeting on 11/04/2018 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, following the Regional Congress held on 09-10 April 2018.
Article by World Coalition Against the Death Penalty published on April 12th, 2018 -
Good newsThe Supreme Court of Kenya declares the mandatory death penalty unconstitutional
On December 14, 2017, the Supreme Court of Kenya declared the mandatory death penalty unconstitutional. This landmark decision puts an end to several years of uncertainties and constitutes an additional step towards the abolition of the death penalty in the country.
Article by Thalia Gerzso published on January 23rd, 2018 -
ACHPR« A new Gambia » welcomes the 61st session of the ACHPR
From November 1st to November 15, 2017, the 61st session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, as well as the NGO Forum, took place in Banjul, Gambia. During the opening session, the President of The Gambia, Adama Barrow, confirmed the “New Gambia’s commitment” to human rights.
Article by FIACAT and World Coalition against the Death Penalty published on November 21st, 2017 -
World DayStrong mobilization in Sub-Saharan Africa on World Day
On October 10, 2017, all the abolitionists all around the world joined their forces to celebrate the 15th World Day Against the Death Penalty. The mobilization was particularly strong in Sub-Saharan Africa where many events were organized.
Article by Thalia Gerzso published on October 19th, 2017
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- Keywords
- International law
- Attached documents
- Study on the question of the death penalty in Africa | English |
- Advocacy Toolkit on Abolition of the Death Penalty in West Africa | English |
- Leaflet on the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Abolition of the Death Penalty | English |
- Focus on
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World Day
18th World Day Against the Death Penalty: Access to counsel - A matter of life or death
On 10 October 2020, the World Day Against the Death Penalty will be dedicated to the right to effective legal representation for individuals who may face a death sentence.
