EU Policy On The Death Penalty
EU Presidency
December 10, 2003
Embassy of Italy
3000 Whitehaven Street
Washington, DC 20008
Mr. Leroy Brownlee
Chairman
Post-Prison Transfer Board
PO Box 8707
Pine Bluff, AR 71611
Dear Mr. Brownlee,
The European Union has learned that Mr. Charles Singleton is facing imminent
execution in the State of Arkansas. On behalf of the European Union, Italy, as
current President, together with
Ireland, the subsequent President, and the European Commission would like to make
an urgent humanitarian appeal to spare the life of Mr. Charles Singleton.
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 (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, seeking a global moratorium on the death penalty
as a first step.
The European Union considers that in those countries, which have not yet abolished
the death penalty, capital punishment should not be imposed on persons suffering
from a mental disorder. Mr. Singleton exhibits severe psychiatric problems
and has apparently suffered from this mental illness for many years. Furthermore,
the EU has been informed that Mr. Singleton has been involuntarily medicated since
1997. Indeed, on February 10, 2003, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals held that
the State of Arkansas can continue to medicate Mr. Singleton so that he is sane
at the time of his execution.
The EU strongly believes that the execution of persons suffering from a mental
disorder is contrary to widely accepted human rights norms and in contradiction
of the minimum standards of human rights set forth in several international human
rights instruments. Among them are
United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Resolution 1989/64 of 24 May
1989 on the implementation of the safeguards guaranteeing protection of the
rights of those facing the death penalty as well as
Resolution 2003/67 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 death penalty on a person suffering from any
form of mental disorder or to execute any such person.”
We therefore respectfully urge you, Mr. Chairman, to take these factors into
consideration and to exercise all the powers vested in your office to recommend
relief from the death penalty in Mr. Singleton’s case.
Sincerely,
Sergio Vento
Ambassador of Italy |
Noel Fahey
Ambassador of Ireland
|
Gérard Depayre
Deputy Head of the European Commission Delegation |
Letter to
Arkansas Governor.
Embassy of Italy
3000 Whitehaven Street
Washington, DC 20008
(202) 412-6400 Fax (202) 518-2154
E-mail:
stampa@itwash.org
Website:
http://www.italyemb.org/
