The Government of Grenada has announced its intention to abolish the death penalty, initiating a national consultative process to gather public feedback before making a final decision on the matter.
The announcement was made by Rae Thomas, Crown Counsel in the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Labour and Consumer Affairs, during Grenada’s appearance at the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) held in Geneva on 5 May 2025. Grenada is among 14 countries under review during the UPR Working Group’s session, which runs from 28 April to 9 May.
Thomas confirmed that while no timeline has been set, the abolition of capital punishment is a clear goal for the government. “Government intends to initiate public consultation on the potential abolition of the death penalty. Grenada remains open to receiving international support and technical assistance to help facilitate this important conversation,” she told the UN review body.
Responding to recommendations from several UN member states—including Italy and Mozambique—Thomas acknowledged the longstanding moratorium on executions in Grenada. The last state execution occurred in 1978, and while the country’s highest court, the Privy Council, has upheld the constitutionality of the death penalty, it has not been enforced in nearly five decades.
Currently, Grenada is not a signatory to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which seeks to abolish the death penalty worldwide. The protocol, which came into force in 1991, affirms the belief that eliminating capital punishment enhances human dignity and the progressive development of human rights.
The proposed public consultation marks a significant step for Grenada as it joins other nations in reexamining the role of capital punishment within modern legal frameworks.
