Drugs and Human Rights
The Death Penalty for Drug Offences
35 countries retain the death penalty for drugs, even though it is a violation of international law. Drug offences do not meet the threshold of ‘most serious’ crimes to which the death penalty can be applied.
We monitor the death penalty worldwide to expose these rights violations and advocate for people facing the death penalty for drug offences, their families and communities.
35
countries
with the death penalty for drug offences in their laws
3560+
executions
for drug offences in the past 10 years
3500+
people
people currently on death row for drugs globally
Flagship Research
Since 2007, we have tracked use of the death penalty for drug offences worldwide, a practice that violates international standards.
Related resources
Briefing
27 October 2023
54TH SESSION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: DRUG POLICY HIGHLIGHTS
Briefing
31 July 2023
53rd SESSION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: DRUG POLICY HIGHLIGHTS
Statement
25 July 2023
Joint call for Singapore to halt executions immediately
Statement
28 February 2023
52nd HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON THE DEATH PENALTY
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