This chapter examines the impact of national human rights institutions (NHRIs) on law reform efforts aimed at abolishing the death penalty in the Asia Pacific region. It addresses the following questions: What, if any, has been the contribution of NHRIs in seeking to secure abolition of the death penalty? Are they protectors or pretenders? Are they catalysts for good and humane governance or are they passive bystanders? It is shown that practices of NHRIs in the region have been generally marred by restrictive mandates and lack of initiatives in the direction of harmonizing national legislation with international human rights instruments.