The draft law proposes eliminating the death penalty for 8 out of 18 crimes currently eligible for capital punishment, replacing it with life imprisonment without parole, a move aimed at maintaining social protection while reducing the use of capital punishment.

The eight crimes are subversion of the people’s administration; espionage; destruction of physical and technical foundations; production and sale of counterfeit medicines; narcotics trafficking; embezzlement; bribery; and acts of aggression and war crimes.  

It proposes exempting certain individuals from execution, including those with end-stage cancer, and AIDS in advanced stages with opportunistic infections, that reflects a more humane approach in criminal justice.

To improve deterrence and align with international standards, the draft also proposes raising prison sentences and fines for crimes related to counterfeit goods; food safety violations; drug offences; and environmental crimes.

The draft includes amendments to four other laws - the Amnesty Law, Law on Execution of Criminal Judgments, Law on Prevention and Control of Human Trafficking, and the People's Public Security Law - to ensure consistency and remove procedural bottlenecks related to the execution of the death penalty.

Giving feedback on the draft law, Hoang Thanh Tung, chairman of the National Assembly Committee on Legal and Judicial Affairs, praised the drafting agency’s efforts, particularly in reducing the scope of the death penalty.

He said some committee members have agreed with eliminating the death penalty for the 8 crimes and replacing it with life imprisonment without parole. Meanwhile, the majority have voiced their support for the principle of reducing the death penalty, but suggested that the drafting agency thoroughly consider removing the death penalty for crimes like embezzlement, bribery, and drug trafficking.

These are considered serious offences with high societal impact, and some members believe removal of the death penalty could undermine deterrence, he said.

The Chairman of the Committee for Legal and Judicial Affairs also stated that the Committee basically agrees with increasing prison sentences for certain crimes related to environmental violations, drug offences, and food safety violations, aiming to enhance the effectiveness of crime prevention and combat, while promptly protecting the interests of the State and the legitimate rights and interests of organisations and citizens.

Vietnam to replace death penalty with life imprisonment without parole

VOV.VN - Vietnam is considering a significant proposal in the draft amendment to the 2025 Penal Code by replacing the death penalty with life imprisonment without parole, and the proposal was discussed at a thematic session on law-making of the government in Hanoi on April 13.