Death penalty: Enact an immediate moratorium toward abolition - Joint statement to the UN Secretary-General

Harm Reduction International, jointly with Centro de Estudios Legales y Sociales (CELS), Dianova International, Hayat and International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC) delivered a statement to the General Debate with the UN Secretary-General on his report on the question of the death penalty, sharing his concern about the alarming increase in drug-related execution and calling all Member States and international community for stronger and more coordinated actions towards the abolition of the death penalty.

Mr President,

Harm Reduction International and the co-signatory organisations welcome the Secretary-General’s report on the Question of the Death Penalty, which reiterates its concerns about the alarming surge of executions for drug-related offences, the expansion of its application in Sri Lanka and attempts to reinstate capital punishment for drug offences in Nigeria and the Philippines.

Currently, 34 countries still retain the death penalty for drug offences. As of 2023, nearly half of all known global executions are for drug offences, with over 3,000 individuals on death row. Ethnic minorities, foreign nationals, women, and economically disadvantaged people are disproportionately affected.

Despite some progress towards abolishing the death penalty, issues in implementing legal reforms hinder further positive developments. In Pakistan, where the death penalty for drug offences has been abolished, judges continue to impose it. In Malaysia, prosecutors continue to seek – and judges to impose – the death penalty for drug trafficking, on the grounds that these offences are exceptionally serious. This has contributed to a significant increase in persons on death row for drug trafficking despite recent reforms and resentencing.

We urge the Council and Member States to take stronger, more coordinated actions against these violations of international law, call for an immediate moratorium, and review domestic drug policies to align with international human rights obligations.

Thank you.