Burkina Faso Abolishes the Death Penalty
On 31 May, the National Assembly adopted a new Criminal Code abolishing the death penalty for ordinary crimes.
We must work hand in hand to get rid of the colonial remnant that is capital punishment and develop regional norms to safeguard human rights in our region. Hon. Reine Benao Sakandé, Member of the National Assembly of Burkina Faso, Member of the ECOWAS Parliamentary Assembly, and PGA Member
Hon. Reine Benao Sakandé
Member of the National Assembly of Burkina Faso, Member of the ECOWAS Parliamentary Assembly, and PGA Member
Positive Developments
Parliamentarians from Francophone Africa met in Kinshasa to discuss the abolition of the death penalty
On 1-2 June 2018, PGA jointly with Ensemble contre la peine de mort (Together against the death penalty, ECPM) and Culture pour la paix et la justice (Culture for peace and justice, CPJ) organised in Kinshasa (Democratic Republic of the Congo) a regional parliamentary seminar entitled “Abolition of the death penalty in Africa: the role of parliamentarians”, with the support of the European Union and of the Honourable Aubin Minaku, Speaker of the National Assembly of the DRC and member of PGA.
The event allowed parliamentarians from West and Central Africa to share their experience and discuss the future of the abolitionist movement in the region.
Read the Kinshasa Action Plan and the Final Declaration.
I am the Chairperson of the Parliamentarians for Global Action in Kenya and we believe in the rule of law and human rights. And one of the things we’re working on this term is the abolition of the death penalty and we’re going to bring amendments to remove the death penalty in our books. Hon. Millie Odhiambo, Member of the National Assembly of Kenya, member of the Pan-African Parliament, and Chairwoman of PGA’s National Group in Kenya
Hon. Millie Odhiambo
Member of the National Assembly of Kenya, member of the Pan-African Parliament, and Chairwoman of PGA’s National Group in Kenya
New Reports and Resources
Life on Death Row - report on death penalty in India by Maroosha Muzaffar for Vice
American support for the death penalty inches up, poll finds – report by Mark Berman for The Washington Post
Unjust and Unwanted: Malaysia’s Mandatory Death Penalty – video produced by The Death Penalty Project
Upcoming Activities
18 September – Opening of the 73rd session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, during which a 7th resolution on a moratorium on the use of the death penalty will be examined
10 October – 16th World Day against the Death Penalty
30-31 October - Regional Parliamentary Seminar on Abolition of the Death Penalty, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)