EU Policy On The Death Penalty
Royal Danish Embassy
Washington, DC
EU Presidency
Governor Perry
State Capitol
Office of the Governor
PO Box 12428
Austin, Texas 78711-2428
File: 27.USA.129 July 2002
Dear Governor Perry,The European Union has learnt that Mr. Toronto Patterson
is to be executed in the State of Texas on August 28, 2002. On behalf of the European
Union, Denmark, as current President, together with Greece, the subsequent President,
and the European Commission would like to make an urgent humanitarian appeal to
spare the life of Mr. Patterson.
As stated in the EU memorandum on the Death Penalty, which has been shared
with you on previous occasions (it can also be found on the web page:
www.eurunion.org/legislat/deathpenalty/eumemorandum.htm), the European Union
opposes the death penalty in all cases and accordingly aims at its universal abolition,
seeking a global moratorium on the death penalty as a first step.
Mr. Patterson was 17 years old at the time of the crime, for which he has been
sentenced to death. The European Union considers that in those countries, which
have not yet abolished the death penalty, this penalty should not be imposed on
persons under the age of 18 at the time of the crime.
The EU strongly believes that the execution of juvenile offenders is contrary
to widely accepted human rights norms and the minimum standards of human rights
set forth by the United Nations. A significant number of treaties, including treaties
signed and ratified by the United States, prohibit such executions, specifically
the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the
American Convention on Human Rights. Article 6 of the ICCPR – to which the
United States is a party – explicitly forbids the execution of juvenile offenders.
We therefore respectfully urge you, Governor, as we have also urged the
Board of Pardons and Paroles, to take these factors into account and to exercise
all the powers vested in your office to grant Mr. Patterson relief from the death
penalty.
Sincerely,
|
Ulrik Federspiel
|
Elefthenos Anghelopoulos
|
Gérard Depayre
|
|
Ambassador of Denmark
|
Chargé d'affaires, a.i.
Embassy of Greece
|
Chargé d'affaires, a.i.
Delegation of the European Commission
|
Danish Presidency July 25, 2002 statement at Organization for Security and Co-operation
in Europe (OSCE) Permanent Council meeting.
Royal Danish Embassy
3200 Whitehaven Street, NW
Washington, DC 20008-3683
(202) 234-4300 Fax (202) 328-1470
E-mail: wasamb@um.dk
Website: http://www.denmarkemb.org/
