The UN continues to advocate for the universal abolition of the death penalty. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ratified by 175 countries, protects the right to life and stipulates that capital punishment, in states where it still exists, must be reserved only for the “most serious crimes”.

According to OHCHR, last year’s spike was driven by executions for drug‑related offences, for crimes committed by children, and for violations that do not meet the threshold of the “most serious crimes”.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk reiterated longstanding concerns about capital punishment. “The death penalty is not an effective crime‑control tool, and it can lead to the execution of innocent people,” he said. “In practice, the death penalty is often applied arbitrarily and discriminatorily, violating fundamental principles of equality before the law.”

OHCHR’s latest monitoring shows that no region had a monopoly on the use of capital punishment in 2025:

• Iran reportedly executed at least 1 500 people, with 47% of cases linked to drug offences.
• Israel considered legislative proposals to expand the death penalty, including mandatory provisions that would apply exclusively to Palestinians.
• Saudi Arabia exceeded its 2024 record, carrying out at least 356 executions, 78% for drug‑related offences.
• Afghanistan continued public executions, in breach of international law.
• In the United States, 47 death‑row inmates were executed, the highest number in 16 years.
• Somalia executed at least 24 people, while Singapore executed 17.

Despite the setbacks, OHCHR highlighted several reforms that reflected global momentum toward limiting or abolishing capital punishment:

• Vietnam reduced the number of crimes eligible for the death penalty.
• Pakistan removed two non‑lethal capital offences, though it still retains 29.
• Zimbabwe formally abolished the death penalty for ordinary crimes on 31 December 2024.
• Kenya initiated a legislative review of capital punishment.
• Malaysia’s resentencing process cut the number of people at risk of execution by more than 1 000.
• Kyrgyzstan’s Constitutional Court reaffirmed its prohibition of the practice.

Today, 170 countries have abolished the death penalty in law or established moratoriums on executions.

–UN/ChannelAfrica–