
L'absent
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- Aug 18, 2024
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Then everything changed with France in 1791. France was one of the most enlightened nations in this regard, with the Revolution completely changing the way life and death were viewed. By decriminalizing suicide, France sent a huge message to the rest of the world: suicide is not a crime, but a human act, often linked to inner suffering. It was a pivotal moment in the history of medicine and justice, a huge step toward understanding mental illness and human dignity. France, with its revolutionary spirit, made a bold statement that set an example for the world.
After them, in 1871, Germany followed suit, decriminalizing suicide with the introduction of its Penal Code. Italy did the same in 1889 with the Zanardelli Code, treating suicide not as a crime but as a health issue. The Netherlands had already done this in 1811, and Denmark in 1849 decriminalized suicide, contributing to the spread of this more human and understanding view. Sweden in 1864 decriminalized suicide, as did Norway in 1902 and Finland in 1894. The United Kingdom finally decriminalized suicide in 1961 with the Suicide Act, removing criminal sanctions for suicide attempts in England and Wales. In 1972, Canada followed suit, and Australia decriminalized suicide in 1973, with reforms gradually taking place in various states.
Switzerland did it in 1927, and Austria in 1950, joining the trend of treating suicide as a medical issue rather than a legal one. Belgium also decriminalized suicide in 1867, while Portugal did so only in 1990, updating its laws. More recently, in 2017, India decriminalized suicide with the Mental Healthcare Act, treating suicide as a mental health issue instead of a crime.
As for the United States, the situation has been more complex, with each state making its own decisions. For example, New Jersey decriminalized suicide as early as 1845, while New York did so in 1828. California decriminalized suicide in 1872, and Texas had to wait until 1973 to do the same. Florida followed in 1969. Each state had its own timeline, with decriminalization happening at different times, reflecting the varying social and legal evolution.
Today, many countries see suicide as a mental health issue rather than a crime, but there are still countries where suicide is treated as a crime. Some examples include Sri Lanka, where it is still a punishable offense; Indonesia, which punishes suicide attempts, though laws are rarely enforced; Pakistan, where suicide is punished with jail time; Malaysia, where it is still criminalized; and even Jamaica and Nigeria, where suicide is still treated as a crime. In these countries, the laws exist, but enforcement is often weak, even though suicide remains formally a crime.
In general, though, the decriminalization of suicide followed a long path, with France being the pioneer, and its influence was crucial for the changes that followed, both in Europe and around the world. France, with its enlightened choice in 1791, truly sparked a revolution that forever changed how we treat life, death, and human suffering.