Guatemala

Guatemala: court decision ruling death penalty unconstitutional

for most crimes is a key step on path to full abolition

On 24 October 2017 the Constitutional Court of Guatemala declared Articles in the Penal Code and
the Anti-Narcotics Law allowing for the imposition of the death penalty unconstitutional. The Court
found that they violate the principle of legality and the prohibition, enshrined in the American
Convention on Human Rights, on the expansion of the scope of the death penalty. As a result of the
decision, from today the death penalty can no longer be imposed for crimes charged under ordinary
laws in Guatemala – a step forward for the promotion and protection of human rights in the country
and a major milestone in its journey towards abolition.