A/HRC/24/18 National Human Rights Action Plan of China (2012-2015) includes measures aimed at strengthening safeguards in all death penalty cases. 8. Singapore adopted the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Act (2012) and the Penal Code (Amendment) Act (2012), both of which abolish the mandatory death penalty in certain circumstances. 9. In the United States of America, the State of Texas adopted a law, known as the “Michael Morton Act”, requiring prosecutors to open files for defendants and keep records of the evidence disclosed in the death penalty cases. The Act aims at preventing wrongful convictions by stopping prosecutors from suppressing evidence.3 C. Member States that have ratified or committed to ratifying international and regional instruments providing for the abolition of the death penalty 10. As of June 2013, 76 States had ratified the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty.4 Benin and Latvia acceded to the Second Optional Protocol. Madagascar signed the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). 11. On 17 April 2013, the Plurinational State of Bolivia adopted a law for the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR.5 Armenia reported that an intergovernmental procedure was under way for the ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR. D. Member States that have introduced a moratorium on executions 12. During the reference period, Singapore observed a short moratorium on executions pending a decision on legislative amendments to its death penalty law. E. Member States that have reintroduced the use of the death penalty, extended its scope or resumed executions 13. Bangladesh adopted the Human Trafficking Prevention and Suppression Act (2012) authorizing the use of the death penalty as the most severe punishment for organized trafficking in human beings.6 Kenya adopted the Defence Forces Act 2012,7 which allows the imposition of the death penalty against members of defence forces for a range of offences.8 India adopted the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2013, which authorizes the use of the death penalty for “repeat rape-offenders” or for rape attacks that result in the 3 4 5 6 7 8 4 See http://governor.state.tx.us/news/press-release/18521. See http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV12&chapter=4&lang=en . Ley Nº 358, de 17 de abril de 2013, por la que se decreta la ratificación del Segundo Protocolo Facultativo del Pacto Internacional de Derechos Civiles y Políticos, destinado a abolir la pena de muerte; See CAT/C/BOL/CO/2, para. 6(b). Section 7, Act No. III of 2012. Kenya Defence Forces Act No. 25 of 2012. Ibid., sections 58-64, 72-73, 133.