Capital punishment in Uruguay

Fusilamiento de Facundo Luna y Carlos Bejarano

Capital Punishment in Uruguay

Capital punishment in Uruguay refers to the legal process whereby a person is put to death by the state as a punishment for a crime. Uruguay has a long history of progressive policies, and the abolition of the death penalty is one of them.

Historical Background

Capital punishment was practiced in Uruguay during the 19th century and the early part of the 20th century. The last execution in Uruguay took place in 1902. The death penalty was officially abolished for all crimes in 1907, making Uruguay one of the first countries in the world to do so.

Legal Framework

The abolition of the death penalty in Uruguay is enshrined in its legal framework. The Constitution of Uruguay explicitly prohibits the death penalty. Article 26 of the Constitution states that "the death penalty is abolished for all crimes."

International Commitments

Uruguay is a signatory to several international treaties that advocate for the abolition of the death penalty. These include the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, and the Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights to Abolish the Death Penalty.

Public Opinion

Public opinion in Uruguay has generally been supportive of the abolition of the death penalty. Surveys and studies have shown that a majority of the population favors life imprisonment over capital punishment for serious crimes.

Comparison with Other Countries

Uruguay's stance on capital punishment is in line with many other countries in Latin America, where the death penalty has been abolished or is rarely used. This contrasts with countries like the United States, where the death penalty is still practiced in several states.

See Also

• Human rights in Uruguay
• Judicial system of Uruguay
• Constitution of Uruguay
• Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
• Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights to Abolish the Death Penalty