Statement to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, April 2013: the death penalty in Africa

PRI issued this joint statement to the 53rd session of the African Commission in April 2013 with the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI), the International Federation of Action by Christians for the Abolition of Torture (FIACAT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH).

The statement called on all African Union states, while continuing to move towards full abolition of the death penalty, to take steps in law and practice to respect international standards that provide safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty, including establishing a moratorium on executions, and to make available relevant information with regard to their use of the death penalty.

PRI and others also raised concerns regarding the negative impact of the imposition and carrying out of the death penalty on the human rights of children of parents sentenced to death or executed, and requested that the African Commission contribute to UN Human Rights Council discussions on this issue.