Submission
Submission to the UN Committee against Torture, November 2013: Application of the death penalty and alternative sanctions by the Republic of Belarus
This submission to the 51st session of the UN Committee against Torture focuses on the use of the death penalty and life imprisonment in Belarus, on prison monitoring, and on due process related (primarily) to death penalty-applicable cases.
It highlights ongoing concerns over the continued use and execution of the death penalty in Belarus; the extremely punitive conditions experienced by both death-row prisoners and prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment; and the ongoing secrecy surrounding the death penalty, with particular reference to the suffering of families who are not informed either about the time of execution or the place of burial.
It also draws attention to concerns over due process, in particular that the prosecution may use information that cannot be cross-examined by the defence, and the lack of systems to ensure independent or effective monitoring.
This submission was produced in partnership with the Belarusian Helsinki Committee.
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