EU Policy On The Death Penalty

 

 

 

 

Director of Multilateral Affairs
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor
US Department of State
Washington, DC

MEMO

• The European Union, represented by the Belgian Presidency, together with Spain (the subsequent Presidency) and the European Commission would like to bring to the attention of the US Government the case of Napoleon Beazley, an Afro-American scheduled to be put to death in the State of Texas on August 15 for a murder committed when he was aged 17.

• As stated in its memorandum on the death penalty, the European Union is opposed to the death penalty in all cases and accordingly aims at its universal abolition.

• The European Union considers that the death penalty, in those countries where it is not yet abolished, should not be imposed on persons under the age of 18 at the time of the crime.

This approach is consistent with the spirit and the letter of several international instruments, in particular with art. 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights -to which the United States is a party-which prohibits the execution of individuals whose age was under 18 years at the time the crime was committed.

• The European Union calls upon the United States of America to commute Mr. Beazley's sentence to any penalty other than capital punishment as is compatible with international law.

Letters have been sent in that respect to the Governor of the State of Texas and to the Members of the Board of Pardons and Parole of Texas.

Washington, DC, August 14, 2001

 

Links to May 7, 2002 Letters to Governor and Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Links to August 10, 2002 Letters to Governor and
Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Links to July 20, 2001 Letters to Governor and Board of Pardons and Paroles.

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