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
Statement
28 February 2023
52nd HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL: STATEMENT ON THE DEATH PENALTY
Briefing
21 February 2023
52nd Session of the Human Rights Council: Drug Policy Opportunities
Submission
31 January 2023
Joint Submission on Malaysia to the 84th Session of the CEDAW
Statement
28 November 2022
Open letter: Halt executions for drug offences in Saudi Arabia
Briefing
7 October 2022
51st Session of the Human Rights Council: Drug Policy Highlights
Submission
22 April 2022
Calling for a moratorium on the use of the death penalty 2022
Report
10 March 2022
The Death Penalty For Drug Offences: Global Overview 2021
Statement
15 February 2022
Urging Singapore to Halt Executions of Two People for Drug Offences
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