In 2024
02000 to present
0International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
1st Optional Protocol to the Covenant
Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (aiming to the abolition of the death penalty)
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (signed only)
American Convention on Human Rights
Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights to abolish the Death Penalty
Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish Torture
Statute of the International Criminal Court (which excludes the death penalty)
The Constitution of the Dominican Republic at Art. 8 (1) refers to "the inviolability of life" and states: "Therefore, neither the death penalty, torture nor any other punishment or oppressive procedure or penalty that implies loss or diminution of the physical integrity or health of the individual may be established." The Dominican Republic has been fully abolitionist since 1966, and the death penalty was replaced with 30 years hard labour way back in 1911. Hard labour penalty was replaced by imprisonment with the Prison Reform Act, which states prisoners shall not be subjected to torture, ill treatment, harmful practices or humiliation of any kind.
On 23 September 2016, the Dominican Republic acceded to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty.