ARMENIA 3.2 ARMENIA RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS International Instruments Ratification Status29 ICCPR R Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR – CRC R ECHR R Protocol No. 6 to the ECHR R Protocol No. 13 to the ECHR – Status: abolitionist LEGAL FRAMEWORK The new Criminal Code replaces the death penalty with life imprisonment.30 However, the Law on the Application of the Criminal Code retains the death penalty for murder with aggravating circumstances, terrorist acts, and rape of female minors if these crimes were committed before the entry into force of the new Criminal Code on 1 August 2003.31 The Secretary-General of the Council of Europe described the above developments as “partial abolition” and called for complete abolition.32 The Armenian parliament ratified Protocol No. 6 to the ECHR, and it entered into force on 1 October 2003. The ratification of Protocol No. 6 ensured the complete abolition of the death penalty. 29 30 31 32 R = ratified, S = signed, a dash (–) indicates that the participating State has neither signed nor ratified the relevant instrument. Adopted on 18 April 2003. Article 3. Press release, Council of Europe, 22 April 2003. 15