Planned US execution of seriously ill Doyle Hamm may
amount to torture, UN experts warn
GENEVA (16 February 2018) – Two UN human rights experts*
have called on the US Government to halt the execution of a seriously ill man
amid concerns that the use of a lethal injection could amount to cruel,
inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment, and possibly torture.
The Special Rapporteurs also expressed concern that Doyle
Hamm, who is due be executed in Alabama on 22 February, may not have received a
fair trial. Mr. Hamm was convicted of robbery and murder in 1987 and has been
on death row for more than three decades.
The execution is due to go ahead even though Mr. Hamm has
cancer and medical professionals have previously had difficulty accessing his
veins.
“We are seriously concerned that attempts to insert
needles into Mr. Hamm’s veins to carry out the lethal injection would inflict
pain and suffering that may amount to torture,” said the experts.
“The planned method of execution, using Alabama’s
three-drug protocol, may also have torturous effects, because the sedative used
is incapable of keeping a convict unconscious in the presence of the
excruciating pain likely to be induced by the other drugs.
“We urge the authorities to halt his execution, annul his
death sentence, and hold a re-trial that complies with international standards,
as we have received information indicating that his original trial did not
fully respect the most stringent due process and fair trial guarantees.”
The experts said that imposing the death penalty in a
manner that constitutes torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment would
render the execution arbitrary in nature and thus be in violation of the
fundamental right to life.
The experts have written to the US Government to express
their concerns about the case.
Judges have ordered a fresh medical report to be
delivered by 20 February, two days before the scheduled execution.
ENDS
*The experts: Ms Agnes Callamard, Special Rapporteur on
extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and Mr. Nils Melzer, Special
Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment orpunishment.
The Special Rapporteurs and Working Groups are part of
what is known as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. SpecialProcedures, the largest body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights
system, is the general name of the Council’s independent fact-finding and
monitoring mechanisms that address either specific country situations or
thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on
a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their
work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in
their individual capacity.
For more information and media requests, please contact:
Ms Rhiannon Painter (+41 22 917 9143 / rpainter@ohchr.org ) or write to
eje@ohchr.org.
This year, 2018, is the 70th anniversary of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN on 10 December 1948. The
Universal Declaration – translated into a world record 500 languages – is
rooted in the principle that “all human beings are born free and equal in
dignity and rights.” It remains relevant to everyone, every day. In honour of
the 70th anniversary of this extraordinarily influential document, and to
prevent its vital principles from being eroded, we are urging people everywhere
to Stand Up for Human Rights: www.standup4humanrights.org.
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