Global InformationResolutions concerning death penalty at the United Nations information
| UN General Assembly Resolution 62/149 | |
|---|---|
| Date | 18 December 2007 |
| Meeting no. | 76 |
| Code | A/RES/62/149 (Document) |
| Subject | Moratorium on the use of the death penalty |
Voting summary |
|
| Result | Approved |
| UN General Assembly Resolution 63/168 | |
|---|---|
| Date | 18 December 2008 |
| Meeting no. | 70 |
| Code | A/RES/63/168 (Document) |
| Subject | Moratorium on the use of the death penalty |
Voting summary |
|
| Result | Approved |
| UN General Assembly Resolution 65/206 | |
|---|---|
| Date | 21 December 2010 |
| Meeting no. | 71 |
| Code | A/RES/65/206 (Document) |
| Subject | Moratorium on the use of the death penalty |
Voting summary |
|
| Result | Approved |
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 (not abolition) 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.
It calls on States that maintain the death penalty to establish a moratorium on the use of the death penalty with a view to abolition, and in the meantime, to restrict the number of offences which it punishes and to respect the rights of those on death row. It also calls on States that have abolished the death penalty not to reintroduce it. Like all General Assembly resolutions, it is not binding on any state.
On 18 December 2007, the United Nations General Assembly voted 104 to 54 in favour of resolution A/RES/62/149, which proclaims a global moratorium on the death penalty, with 29 abstentions (as well as 5 absent at the time of the vote).[1] Italy had proposed and sponsored this resolution. After the resolution's approval, Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema declared: "Now we must start working on the abolition of the death penalty".[2]
On 18 December 2008, the General Assembly adopted another resolution (A/RES/63/168) reaffirming its previous call for a global moratorium on capital punishment 106 to 46 (with 34 abstentions and another 6 were absent at the time of the vote). Working in partnership with the EU, New Zealand and Mexico were co-facilitators of the draft text which was developed over a period of six months, which Chile then presented to the UN General Assembly on behalf of cosponsors.
On 21 December 2010, the 65th General Assembly adopted a third resolution (A/RES/65/206) with 109 countries voting in favour, 41 against and 35 abstentions (another seven countries were absent at the time of the vote).[3]
On 20 December 2012, the 67th General Assembly adopted a fourth resolution (A/RES/67/176) with 111 countries voting in favour, 41 against and 34 abstentions (another seven countries were absent).[4]
On 18 December 2014, the 69th General Assembly adopted a fifth resolution (A/RES/69/186) with 117 countries voting in favour, 38 against and 34 abstentions (another four countries were absent).[5]
On 19 December 2016, the 71st General Assembly adopted a sixth resolution (A/RES/71/187) with 117 countries voting in favour, 40 against and 31 abstentions (another five countries were absent).[6]
On 16 December 2018, 121 voted in favour of the 7th resolution, 35 against, and 32 abstained.[7]
On 16 December 2020, 123 voted in favour of the 8th resolution, 38 against, and 24 abstained.[8]
On 15 December 2022, 125 voted in favour of the 9th resolution, 37 against, 22 abstained, and 9 absent.[9]
- ^ "General Assembly Adopts Landmark Text Calling for Moratorium on Death Penalty". United Nations. Archived from the original on 21 December 2007.
- ^ "Pena di morte, sì dell'Onu alla moratoria proposta dall'Italia" [Death penalty: yes from UN to Italy's proposed moratorium]. La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ^ "New Resolution Approved by the UN. The Pro Moratorium Front Grows". Hands Off Cain. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ^ "World's nations call for executions freeze". World Coalition. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- ^ "117 countries vote for a global moratorium on executions". World Coalition. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- ^ "The UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly for a 6th resolution calling for a universal moratorium on executions". World Coalition. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
- ^ "Death penalty: Global abolition closer than ever as record number of countries vote to end executions". WCADP. 16 December 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- ^ "Statement on the Adoption of the 8th UN General Assembly Resolution for a Moratorium on the Use of the Death Penalty". WCADP. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- ^ "9th Resolution for a moratorium on the death penalty: the trend is growing". World Coalition. Retrieved 6 April 2023.