Helping the world achieve a 'moratorium' on executions

HomepageHelping the world achieve a moratorium on executions

- Moratorium
  Helping the world achieve a moratorium on executions
  
  On 16 December 2020, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the 8th resolution for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty with 123 votes in favor.
- In 2007, the World Coalition made one of the most important decisions in its young history: to support the Resolution of the United Nations General Assembly for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty as a step towards universal abolition.
  A moratorium is temporary suspension of executions and, more rarely, of death sentences. It is provisional and often depends on the will of a key decision maker (President, Minister of Justice...). Conversely, abolition is permanent as enshrined in law.
  
  The UN General Assembly resolution is not legally binding, even for State that favored it, yet it enjoys a great symbolic significance. It is adopted by the most democratic organ of the United Nations, where every UN member State has one vote. The resolution thereby contributes to strengthening the international impact of abolition every other year and to outlining its global dynamics, which makes it particularly important to the abolitionist community. A vote in favor of the resolution may encourage States that have not yet done so to continue their commitment towards abolition in law.
  
  “The use of the death penalty undermines human dignity”
  
  Several attempts to pass a resolution against the death penalty at the UN General Assembly at the end of the 20th century had failed.
  
  In 2007, however, the momentum was different because a trend towards the universal abolition had begun. Two-thirds of the world’s countries had abolished the death penalty or ceased to apply it, and the number of executions declined each year. The time had come to encourage a majority of states to adopt the principle that “the use of the death penalty undermines human dignity” and to “call upon all States that still maintain the death penalty to establish a moratorium on executions with a view to abolishing the death penalty”.
  
  Increasing support
  
  This decision also marked the launch of the World Coalition’s first international advocacy campaign directed towards States and international organizations. The World Coalition participated actively in the efforts for the adoption of the resolution by dedicating the 2007 World Day Against the Death Penalty to this issue. It collected more than 160,000 signatures on a petition and lobbied 105 countries. On 18 December 2007, the resolution was passed with the support of 104 UN member States, while 54 voted against and 29 abstained.
  
  In 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020, the World Coalition led a campaign to increase support for the new resolution and to ensure its implementation. The vote in 2008 showed increasing support for the moratorium: 106 countries voted in favor, 46 against and 34 abstained. In 2010, even more States supported the resolution with 109 votes in favor, 41 votes against and 35 abstentions. In 2012, the resolution gained even more support with 111 votes in favor, 41 voting against and 34 abstaining. In 2014, the resolution passed with a stronger support: 117 votes in favor, 37 against, 34 abstentions and five absent. This important support remained the same in 2016: 117 votes in favor, 40 against, 31 abstentions and five absent. In 2018, the resolution reached a milestone with 121 votes in favor, 35 against, 32 abstentions and five absent. Finally, in 2020, the resolution was adopted with a record 123 votes in favor, 38 against, 24 abstentions and eight absent.
  
  Since 2007, the movement for abolition has grown larger and larger. More states have abolished the death penalty in law or in practice or have limited its application, more moratoria on executions have been implemented, and proposals for abolition in law have multiplied throughout the world.
- UN receives five million signatures in favour of a moratorium on executions
  
  A delegation of World Coalition member organisations has handed over the petition to United Nations General Assembly president Srgjan Kerim.
  
  Article published on November 08th, 2007
- Speaking out in favour of a global moratorium on executions
  
  Together with filmmaker Tim Robbins, abolitionists launched an appeal from New York to support the proposed UN resolution imposing a freeze on executions. Five million people signed the petition supporting this initiative. Watch the video.
  
  Article published on October 25th, 2007
- Nations of the world to vote on fresh moratorium resolution
  
  As the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly gets under way in New York, the spotlight is once again put on a text calling for a global moratorium on executions.
  
  Article published on November 08th, 2008
- UN resolution: the abolitionist front gets stronger
  
  The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty welcomes the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of a second resolution calling for a universal moratorium on the use of the death penalty.
  
  Article published on December 19th, 2008
- UN resolution: the abolitionist front grows stronger again
  
  The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty welcomes the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of a third resolution calling for a universal moratorium on the use of the death penalty.
  
  Article published on December 22nd, 2010
- United Nations
  UN General Assembly Committee adopts draft moratorium resolution
  
  A majority of the world’s nations have approved a text calling for a global moratorium on executions, with stronger support than in a previous vote two years ago.
  
  Article by Maria Donatelli published on November 20th, 2012
- Video
  UN General Assembly votes for 2012 moratorium resolution
  
  On December 20th 2012 the UN General Assembly voted in favor of its fourth resolution for a “Moratorium on the use of the death penalty” following previous resolutions in 2007, 2008 and 2010.
  
  Video published on January 28th, 2013
- United Nations
  World’s nations call for execution freeze
  
  The World Coalition Against the Death Penalty welcomes the adoption by a growing number of United Nations member States of a fourth resolution calling for a universal moratorium on the use of the death penalty.
  
  Article by Maria Donatelli published on December 20th, 2012
- UN
  117 countries vote for a global moratorium on executions
  
  The latest vote at the UN General Assembly shows wider support than ever for a resolution on a moratorium on the use of the death penalty.
  
  Article by Maria Donatelli published on December 19th, 2014
- World Day
  5th World Day against the death penalty: the world decides!
  
  On October 10th, 2007, the World Day against the Death Penalty focussed on the proposed UN General Assembly resolution for a universal moratorium on executions. The proposal would save lives and give the population of retentionist states an opportunity to see for themselves that a pause in death sentences does not lead to higher crime rates.
  
  Article by Thomas Hubert published on June 29th, 2007
- Moratorium
  The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly for a 6th resolution calling for a universal moratorium on executions
  
  On 19 December 2016, with 117 States voting in favour of the resolution, the UN member states reasserted their support for a universal moratorium on the use of the death penalty.
  
  Article by Elise Guillot et Aurélie Plaçais published on December 20th, 2016
- Keywords
- Moratorium
- Focus on
- 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.
- Other Folders
- Africa The campaign for the abolition of the death penalty on the African continent
- Oslo 2016 6th World Congress Against the Death Penalty
- World Day 15th World Day Against the Death Penalty: Poverty