Capital punishment in Chile

Capital punishment is a legal sanction in Chile, but its use has been limited to military personnel for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during wartime, since its abolition for civilian offenses in 2001.[1][2] Chile is one of seven countries that has abolished capital punishment for ordinary crimes only. The method of execution in Chile is by shooting, which was last carried out on January 29, 1985, when two serial killers, Jorge Sagredo and Carlos Topp, were executed by firing squad.

According to official records, 53 people were sentenced to death and consequently executed between 1890 and 1967, with hundreds more having their sentences commuted instead.[3]

Chile has been a vocal supporter of the United Nations Moratorium on the death penalty and has consistently voted in favor of it since 2007. Furthermore, Chile is a party to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which aims to abolish capital punishment.[4] However, Chile has made a reservation under Article 2.1 of the treaty, allowing for execution in times of war for the conviction of the most serious crimes of a military nature committed during wartime.[5] Chile signed the treaty on November 15, 2001, and ratified it on September 26, 2008.[6]

References
  1. "Abolitionist and retentionist countries (as of July 2018)". Amnesty International. 23 October 2018. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  2. "Chile". World Coalition Against the Death Penalty. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  3. "Historia de la Ley Nº 17.266 MODIFICA EL CODIGO PENAL Y EL CODIGO DE JUSTICIA MILITAR EN LO REFERENTE A LA PENA DE MUERTE Y MODIFICA EL ARTICULO TRANSITORIO DE LA LEY 17.155". bcn.cl (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  4. "12. Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty". United Nations Treaty Collection. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  5. "Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, G.A. res. 44/128, annex, 44 U.N. GAOR Supp. (No. 49) at 207, U.N. Doc. A/44/49 (1989), entered into force July 11, 1991". University of Minnesota Human Rights Library. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  6. "12. Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty". United Nations Treaty Collection. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
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