Capital punishment in North Macedonia

Europe-Republic of North Macedonia

Capital Punishment in North Macedonia

Capital punishment in North Macedonia refers to the legal process whereby a person is put to death by the state as a punishment for a crime. North Macedonia, a country located in Southeast Europe, has abolished the death penalty for all crimes.

History

The history of capital punishment in North Macedonia is closely tied to its political and legal developments. During the period when North Macedonia was part of Yugoslavia, the death penalty was used for various serious crimes. However, following the breakup of Yugoslavia and the subsequent independence of North Macedonia in 1991, the country began to reform its legal system.

Abolition

North Macedonia officially abolished the death penalty in 1991, the same year it declared independence from Yugoslavia. The abolition was part of a broader movement towards aligning the country's legal standards with those of the European Union and other international human rights organizations. The last execution in North Macedonia took place in 1988, before the country gained independence.

Legal Framework

The abolition of capital punishment in North Macedonia is enshrined in its Constitution. Article 10 of the Constitution explicitly prohibits the death penalty, ensuring that no individual can be sentenced to death for any crime. This legal framework is supported by North Macedonia's commitment to various international treaties and conventions that advocate for the abolition of the death penalty.

International Commitments

North Macedonia is a signatory to several international agreements that call for the abolition of the death penalty. These include the European Convention on Human Rights and its Protocols, particularly Protocol No. 6 and Protocol No. 13, which specifically address the abolition of the death penalty in peacetime and in all circumstances, respectively.

Public Opinion

Public opinion in North Macedonia regarding the death penalty has evolved over time. While there may have been support for capital punishment in the past, contemporary views are largely influenced by the country's legal commitments and the broader European context, which generally opposes the death penalty.

See Also

• Human rights in North Macedonia
• Judicial system of North Macedonia
• European Convention on Human Rights
• Abolition of the death penalty