The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (the Commission), meeting at its 82nd Ordinary Session held virtually from February 25 to March 11, 2025
Recalling its mandate of promotion and protection of human and peoples’ rights in Africa, pursuant to the african Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (the African charter);
Considering article 4 of the african Charter, which enshrines the right to life, prohibits its arbitrary deprivation and upholds the integrity of the person; and article 5, which prohibits torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment;
Also considering article 45 (1) (a) of the african Charter which mandates the African Commission to collect documents, undertake studies and research on African problems in the field of human and peoples’ rights;
Recalling its Resolution ACHPR/Res.416 (LXIV) 2019 on the abolition of the death penalty, urging States Parties that retain the mandatory death penalty to abolish it as it violates the right to life and the right to human dignity;
Recalling also, in this regard, the adoption of the Draft Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Abolition of the Death Penalty by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights at its 56th Ordinary Session held in Banjul, The Gambia, from 21 April to 7 May 2015;
Persuaded that a study on the death penalty will contribute to providing data and information on the contextual situation, the scope and scale of the problem and recommendations to inform strategies and measures to be introduced to prevent and protect individuals from the damaging effects arising from the application of the death penalty and thus protect their right to life and urge States to commit themselves resolutely to the path towards abolition;
Considering the Study on the issue of the death penalty undertaken in 2011 pursuant to Resolution ACHPR/Res.79 (XXXVIII) 05 and adopted at the 50th Ordinary Session held from 24 October to 5 November 2011, in Banjul, in Gambia;
Recalling Resolution ACHPR/Res.546 (LXXIII) 2022 mandating the Working Group to review the Study on the Death Penalty to include new thematic areas and to update available statistical data on the issue of the abolition of the death penalty in Africa;
Considering that the deadline for completing the Study expired on 8 November 2023;
Mindful of the need to provide the Working Group with sufficient time to finalise the Draft Study;
The Commission:
1. Decides to extend, by one (1) year, the deadline set for the finalisation of the Study; and
2. Calls on all relevant stakeholders to provide the necessary support to the Study.
Done on 11 March 2025
