death_penalty_new.qxd 02-08-27 12:57 Page 30 THE DEATH PENALTY IN THE OSCE AREA 4.6 CYPRUS88 RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS International Instruments Signed Ratified Article 6 of the ICCPR Yes Yes Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR Yes Yes89 Article 37 (a) of the CRC Yes Yes Protocol No.6 to the ECHR Yes Yes Protocol No.13 to the ECHR Yes No LEGAL FRAMEWORK Status: Abolitionist Scope: The death penalty was abolished for all crimes committed in peacetime in 1999. Until recently the death penalty was retained for certain wartime offences under the Military Criminal Code. Accordingly, upon ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR, Cyprus entered a reservation under Article 2 enabling the use of the death penalty in wartime pursuant to a conviction of a most serious crime of a military nature committed during wartime. However, on 19 April 2002 the Military Criminal Code was amended to remove the death penalty for crimes committed in wartime90. The process of drafting a ratification law to enable Cyprus to ratify Protocol No. 13 to the ECHR is now underway and Cyprus intends to withdraw its earlier reservation to the Second Optional Protocol to the ICCPR. Cyprus is now abolitionist for crimes committed in peacetime and in wartime. 88 89 90 This entry was written with the assistance of the Delegation of Cyprus to the OSCE who completed our questionnaire on the death penalty. Ratification was subject to a reservation enabling the use of the death penalty in wartime. Law 39(1)/2002. 30