EU Policy On The Death Penalty

EUROPEAN UNION HUMANITARIAN APPEAL ON BEHALF OF STEVE ROACH

Press Release

Embassy of Portugal, Washington, DC

January 14, 2000

On December 9, 1999 the representative of the Finnish Presidency of the European Union conveyed a humanitarian appeal on behalf of Mr. Steve Roach.

Mr. Roach was only 17 years old when he committed the crime for which he was convicted to death penalty. Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) expressly forbids the execution of people whose crime was committed when they were under 18 years of age.

In the appeal the European Union stated its position that Article 6 of the ICCPR enshrines the minimum rules for the protection of the right to life and the generally accepted standards in this area. The European Union also noted the view of the United Nations Human Rights Committee that the reservation made by the United States to Article 6 of the ICCPR is incompatible with the object and purpose of that International Covenant and should, therefore, be withdrawn.

The European Union respectfully urged the commutation of Mr. Roach's sentence to life imprisonment, or other appropriate penalty.

Mr. Steve Roach was executed on January 13 at 9:00.

At the time the Governor of Virginia, the Honorable Jim Gilmore, made a statement regarding the execution.