EU Policy On The Death Penalty
EMBASSY OF GREECE
Washington, DC
EU Presidency
20 May, 2003
Governor Mark R. Warner
State Capitol, 3rd Floor
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Dear Governor Warner,
The European Union has learned that Mr. Percy Walton is facing imminent execution
in the State of Virginia. On behalf of the European Union, Greece, as current
president, together with Italy,
its subsequent President, and the European Commission, would like to convey to
you an urgent humanitarian appeal to spare the life of Mr. Percy Walton.
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, this penalty should not be imposed on persons
suffering from a mental disorder. Mr. Walton suffers from severe chronic
schizophrenia and apparently suffered from this mental illness at the time
of the crime.
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
to 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
2007 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.”
We therefore respectfully urge you, Mr. Governor, to take these factors into account and exercise all
the powers vested in your office to grant Mr. Walton relief from the death penalty.
Sincerely,
Sergio Vento
Ambassador of Italy
Embassy of Greece
2221 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
(202) 939-5800 Fax (202) 939-5824
E-mail: greece@greekembassy.org
Website:
http://www.greekembassy.org/Embassy/content/en/Root.aspx
