The community of nations has adopted four international treaties providing for the abolition of the death penalty. One is of worldwide scope; the other three are regional. This document contains short descriptions of the four treaties and current lists of states parties and countries which have signed but not ratified the treaties. (States may become parties to international treaties by ratifying or acceding to them. Signature indicates an intention to become a party at a later date through ratification. States are bound under international law to respect the provisions of treaties to which they are parties.)
