This paper was prepared by the Human Rights Department of the Office for Democratic
Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organization for Security and Co-operation
in Europe (OSCE) in co-operation with OSCE field offices. Every effort has been made to
ensure that the information contained in this paper is accurate and impartial.
This paper updates Background Paper 2005 of September 2005. It is intended to provide
a comparative overview of the death penalty throughout the OSCE region and to promote
constructive discussion. The content of this paper does not necessarily reflect the policy or
position of the OSCE or the ODIHR.
Any comments or suggestions should be addressed to the ODIHR Human Rights
Department.
Published by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and
Human Rights (ODIHR)
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© OSCE/ODIHR 2006
All rights reserved. The contents of this publication may be freely used and copied for
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accompanied by an acknowledgement of the OSCE/ODIHR as the source.
ISBN 83-60190-27-5
Designed by Nona Reuter
Printed in Poland by Poligrafus Andrzej Adamiak
This publication was funded by the European Commission
in the framework of the EC-ODIHR Joint Programme for
Advancing Human Rights and Democratization in Central
Asia (and Developing Guidelines for Media Monitoring in
Elections).