The death sentence is applicable for 46 offences and mandatory for 21. Interior Minister Walter Guiteras said he agreed with the murdered child's parents that the death penalty should be used for crimes against children, but stated that the reintroduction of the death penalty would require a congressional amendment to the Bolivian constitution. In a Congressional debate held at the beginning of September, a bill to reinstate the death penalty was rejected by a majority of parliamentarians. The last execution in Bolivia took place in 1974. Most were for drug-related offences.
Executions take place after trials which fall far short of international standards for fair trial.
Defendants do not have the right to formal representation by defence lawyers, foreign nationals reportedly are not always provided with adequate interpretation facilities and access to consular assistance, and confessions can be used as the sole basis for convictions. AI is aware of 59 people detained on charges which carry the death penalty although the true figure may be much higher. Another man, Bakhrom Sodirov, was executed in January. At least six death sentences are known to have been passed this year. The UN Secretary-General appealed for the death sentences to be commuted.