LUSAKA (CHATNEWSTV) — Zambia has officially abolished the death penalty for all crimes, becoming the 92nd state to join the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The landmark decision took effect on March 19, 2025, marking the final step in the country’s shift away from capital punishment.
“Accession to this important treaty confirms Zambia’s commitment to respect, protect, and fulfill the fundamental right to life,” the EU spokesperson said in a statement, welcoming the move as a significant step in global human rights progress.
Zambia’s decision strengthens the growing global movement against capital punishment, with more than two-thirds of countries having abolished it in law or practice.
The European Union reaffirmed its opposition to the death penalty under all circumstances, calling it a cruel and inhumane punishment that does not deter crime. The EU pledged to continue advocating for its universal abolition in the remaining countries where it is still in use.
Zambia’s move sets a powerful example for the African continent and beyond, reinforcing the trend toward a world free of capital punishment.
