EU Policy On The Death Penalty

EUROPEAN UNION HUMANITARIAN APPEAL ON BEHALF OF
DOUGLAS C. THOMAS

Press Release

Embassy of Portugal, Washington, DC

January 19, 2000

On June 14, 1999 the representative of the Presidency of European Union conveyed a humanitarian appeal on behalf of Mr. Douglas C.Thomas. This appeal by the European Union was renewed seven months later, on January 7, 2000

Mr. Douglas 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 those appeals 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6 of the ICCPR is incompatible with the object and purpose of that International Covenant and should, therefore, be withdrawn.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. Douglas' sentence to life imprisonment, or other appropriate penalty.

Mr. Douglas C. Thomas was executed on January 10 at 9:00.

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