EU Policy On The Death Penalty

 

 

 

Washington, DC,  21 February, 2001

Missouri Board of Probation and Parole
Chairman Denis H Agniel
1511 Christy Drive
Jefferson City, MO 65101

Dear Mr. Chairman,

The European Union has learnt that Mr. Antonio Richardson is scheduled to be executed in the State of Missouri on 7 March, 2001. Representing the European Union, Sweden, as the current President, together with Belgium, the subsequent President, and the European Commission, would like to make an urgent humanitarian appeal on behalf of Mr. Richardson.

As stated in the EU Memorandum on the Death Penalty (which can be found on the web page http://www.eurunion.org/legislat/DeathPenalty/eumemorandum.htm), the European Union is opposed to the death penalty in all cases and accordingly aims at its universal abolition. In countries applying the death penalty, the EU seeks to ensure that the executions are carried out in accordance with the minimum standards set forth in several international human rights instruments.

The European Union has taken note that Mr. Richardson was under the age of 18 at the time of the commission of the crime. The EU Member States adhere to the principle that juveniles who have committed a crime, however serious, should be treated differently from adults. This position also includes the rejection of the death penalty for this category of offenders.

The EU view of juvenile justice is consistent with international standards in the field, as reflected in the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). While recognizing that the United States has made a reservation to Article 6 of this Covenant, the EU believes that this article enshrines the minimum rules for the protection of the right to life and is the generally accepted norm in this area.

Furthermore, the European Union has taken note that Mr. Richardson has been diagnosed of having a mental disorder. Also in this case, the execution of Mr. Richardson would be in contradiction to the minimum standards set forth in several international human rights instruments. Among them are the United Nations ECOSOC Safeguards Guaranteeing Protection of the Rights of those Facing the Death Penalty, as well as resolution 2000/65 adopted at the last session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. This resolution specifically urges all states still maintaining the death penalty "not to impose the death penalty on a person suffering from any form of mental disorder or to execute any such person".

Taking these factors and considerations into account, the European Union respectfully appeals to you, Mr. Chairman, and the other Members of the Missouri Board of Probation and Parole, to exercise all powers invested in your office to commute the sentence of Mr. Richardson to life imprisonment or such other penalty as is compatible with international law.

Yours sincerely,

Jan Eliasson	Alex Reyn	Günter Burghardt
Ambasador of Sweden	Ambassador of Belgium	Head of the Delegation of the European Commission