[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Aug. 26



LIBERIA:

Liberia Death Penalty Violates International Law, Says UN Human Rights
Body

The United Nations Human Rights Committee expressed deep concern today at
new death penalty legislation authorized by Liberian President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf, contravening an international treaty on civil and
political rights.

The Committee - in charge of monitoring compliance with the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) - observed that Liberia is
party to the Second Optional Protocol to that pact aimed at the abolition
of the death penalty.

"The Act signed by the President of Liberia on 22 July 2008 therefore
constitutes a clear breach by Liberia of its international legal
obligations under the Second Optional Protocol," the Committee stated in a
press release.

The new law in Liberia provides that "in the event death occurs during the
commission of a crime of armed robbery, terrorism or hijacking, the
accused ... shall be sentenced to death by hanging or imprisonment for
life without possible parole."

The Committee pointed out that as a signatory to the ICCPR's Second
Optional Protocol since 2005, Liberia has committed to ensuring that, as
the pact states, "no one within (its) jurisdiction (...) shall be
executed."

Further, the Protocol notes that States party to it should also "take all
necessary measures to abolish the death penalty within (their)
jurisdiction."

The rights body "urges Liberia to revisit the Act for possible amendment
as soon as possible and encourages it, in the meantime, to maintain the
moratorium in place since 1979."

(source: United Nations)