21 May 2026 20:03 UTC · UK Government · GOV.UK Speech · Source · Email X Link

UK Government reiterates opposition to the death penalty internationally

Key points

Opposes the death penalty in all cases
Calls for universal abolition and UN moratorium support

TL;DR

Expresses concern about a rise in executions, citing Amnesty International's Global Report on Death Sentences and Executions 2025
States the death penalty is inhumane and degrading, violates human rights including the right to life and prohibition of torture, and opposes it in all cases
Urges United Nations Member States to support the General Assembly moratorium resolution and the Human Rights Council biennial abolition resolution; notes the 9th World Congress against the Death Penalty in Paris, 30 June–2 July 2026

Original text

We are deeply concerned about a recent series of backward steps going against the global movement towards universal abolition of the death penalty, as outlined in the Global Report on Death Sentences and Executions 2025 recently released by Amnesty International. This includes a sharp increase in executions in the world, primarily due to a significant rise in executions in a small number of retentionist States. Other United Nations Member States have resumed the use of the death penalty after periods of suspension or have taken steps to reintroduce it into national legislation or to expand the types of offences for which the death penalty can be imposed, sometimes creating a framework susceptible to group-based discrimination. These setbacks serve as a stark reminder of the continued relevance and urgency of the fight for the universal abolition of the death penalty. The death penalty is inhumane and degrading, contrary to human dignity, without any deterring effect. We deplore the fact that the use of the death penalty leads to violations of the human rights of the persons facing the death penalty and of other affected persons, including violations of the right to life and to the prohibition of torture enshrined in international instruments including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This is why we oppose the death penalty, in all cases and in all circumstances. Its rejection is a fundamental principle that unites us. We call for the universal abolition of the death penalty and commend the efforts undertaken worldwide towards this objective. The number of countries resorting to the death penalty continues to decline, with more than two-thirds of United Nations Member States having abolished it in law or in practice. We urge all United Nations Member States to support the upcoming General Assembly resolution on the moratorium on the use of the death penalty, presented on behalf of the Inter-Regional Task Force, as well as the Human Rights Council’s biennial resolution on the abolition of the death penalty. We reiterate our full support for the work of the United Nations, the relevant treaty bodies and special procedure mandate holders, as well as Civil Society Organisations working towards these goals. We look forward to the 9th World Congress against the Death Penalty, to be held in Paris from 30 June to 2 July 2026. This Congress represents an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment towards universal abolition. The abolition of the death penalty is a universal fight for human dignity. We call upon all United Nations Member States to join us in achieving it.

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Europe