Malawi: Statement by the Spokesperson on the abolition of the death penalty

In a landmark ruling on 28 April 2021, Malawi's Supreme Court declared the death penalty unconstitutional. With this decision, Malawi joined the large and growing majority of countries in Africa and in the world having abolished the death penalty in law or de facto.

This action is confirming the trend to abandon this inhumane punishment: over the last 10 years no executions took place in 163 Member States of the United Nations, which represents 84% of their total number.

The abolition of the death penalty contributes to the protection of human dignity. Capital punishment is cruel, inhuman, fails to provide deterrence to criminal behaviour, and represents an unacceptable denial of human dignity and integrity.