In 1863, decades before most countries even considered banning capital punishment, Venezuela became the first modern nation to abolish the death penalty—a radical move at the time, akin to announcing you’ve outlawed gravity. The decision, enshrined in the country’s constitution under President Juan Crisóstomo Falcón, came after years of brutal civil war (the Federal War) and a growing belief that state-sanctioned killing conflicted with human dignity. While other nations dabbled in abolition (like Tuscany in 1786, which no longer exists), Venezuela remains the oldest current country to have erased executions from its legal code.
The abolition was part of broader liberal reforms, including free speech protections and land redistribution. Critics called it naive, especially in a region plagued by political violence. But Venezuela held firm, replacing executions with life imprisonment—a bold stance in an era when public hangings were still prime-time entertainment elsewhere. As one historian noted, “They swapped gallows for gavels, and chaos didn’t ensue.”
Globally, the move was ahead of its time. The United Kingdom didn’t abolish capital punishment until 1965; the U.S. still practices it in 27 states. Even Venezuela’s neighbors, like Brazil and Chile, kept executions legal into the 20th century. Yet Venezuela’s ban survived dictatorships, coups, and Hugo Chávez’s polarizing presidency. Today, its constitution explicitly forbids the death penalty, even for treason or war crimes—a policy as non-negotiable as its love for baseball and arepas.
Ironically, Venezuela’s violent crime rates (currently among Latin America’s highest) haven’t swayed this stance. Politicians occasionally float revival ideas, but public opinion resists. “We’ve managed 160 years without it,” argued one Caracas lawyer. “Bringing it back would be like resurrecting dial-up internet.”
The country’s abolitionist legacy isn’t spotless. Extrajudicial killings by security forces remain a grim issue, highlighting the gap between law and practice. Still, the formal ban stands as a quiet rebellion against a world where 55 countries still execute people.
So, next time someone claims capital punishment is “inevitable,” point them to Venezuela—a nation that decided justice doesn’t require a noose. And if you’re ever in Caracas, visit the old prison-turned-cultural-center where gallows once loomed. It’s a reminder that progress sometimes means looking backward to move forward. Just don’t mention the current inflation rate; even abolitionists need a win.
