By OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

Noting the restrictions and safeguards regarding the use of the death penalty adopted by the international community, as well as the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of capital punishment, OSCE participating States have made a number of commitments relating to the death penalty.1 They committed to exchange information on the question of the abolition of the death penalty and to provide information on the use of the death penalty to the public.2 Where the death penalty is still in use, participating States have agreed that it can be imposed only for the most serious crimes and only in line with international commitments.3 OSCE participating States have also made a number of other commitments relevant in the context of the application of the death penalty, such as ensuring the right to life, the right to a fair trial and the absolute prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.4

Warsaw, Poland: OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), 2021. 67p.