A/HRC/21/29 Contents Page I. Introduction ............................................................................................................. 1–2 3 II. Changes in law and practice .................................................................................... 3–20 3 A. Countries that have abolished the death penalty for all crimes ...................... 4–5 3 B. Countries that have restricted the scope of the death penalty or are limiting its issue .............................................................................................. 6–9 3 C. Countries that have ratified or committed to ratifying international and regional instruments providing for the abolition of the death penalty ..... 10–13 4 D. Countries that have introduced a moratorium on executions .......................... 14–16 5 E. Countries that have reintroduced the use of the death penalty, extended its scope or resumed executions ...................................................... 17–20 5 III. Enforcement of the death penalty ............................................................................ 21–22 6 IV. Application of the safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty ............................................................................. 23–46 7 A. Restriction of use of the death penalty to “most serious crimes”.................... 24–30 7 B. Fair trial guarantees ........................................................................................ 31–36 9 C. Access to consular services for foreign nationals ........................................... 37–41 11 D. Pardon or commutation ................................................................................... 42–44 12 E. Methods of execution ..................................................................................... 45–46 12 Use of the death penalty on children, persons with mental or intellectual disabilities and other vulnerable groups .................................................................. 47–59 13 A. Children .......................................................................................................... 47–53 13 B. Persons with mental or intellectual disabilities ............................................... 54–55 14 C. Discrimination in the imposition of the death penalty .................................... 56–59 15 Conclusions and recommendations ......................................................................... 60–63 16 V. VI. 2 Paragraphs