Published on 1 February 2026

Abolition of the death penalty

Switzerland is committed to a world without the death penalty. The legal position held by both Switzerland and the Council of Europe is that the use of the death penalty is inconsistent with the right to life and the right to live free from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. This position is not shared by all countries. For that reason, Switzerland is working to build international consensus on the incompatibility of the death penalty with human rights.

Switzerland is categorically opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances. — © Envato

The broad-based approach adopted by Switzerland and its partners has proved effective: significant progress has been achieved across the world on abolishing the death penalty. The number of states that have abolished the death penalty has gone from 55 to 113 in the space of 30 years. However, the figures do not show any downward trend in executions and death sentences in recent years, suggesting that it is difficult to stop countries that retain the death penalty from using it.

The FDFA is therefore seeking to reduce these numbers while continuing to support the general trend towards worldwide abolition.

The FDFA has published an Action Plan for the period 2024–27 which defines three fields of action for achieving this objective:

Field of action 1: mobilising diplomacy

Switzerland engages in dialogue with countries that continue to impose the death penalty to encourage them to abolish it or, at the very least, limit or suspend its use.

Field of action 2: strengthening the normative framework

Switzerland is working to strengthen the international framework which aims to limit or suspend use of the death penalty. It plays a leading role in UN initiatives on the death penalty and supports regional organisations committed to abolishing it.

Field of action 3: strengthening international collaboration

Switzerland recognises that progress on abolishing the death penalty worldwide has been achieved through combined efforts and is committed to increasing cooperation with like-minded states and civil society organisations.

Documents

• Universal abolition of the death penalty - Action plan 2024–2027

  PDF4.93 MB15 July 2024