Amnesty International: The Death Penalty
Even under the most sophisticated death penalty statutes, race continues to play a major role in determining who shall live and who shall die." - Justice Blackmun, formerly of the US Supreme Court, 1994
...
In the same Lousiana district where Cousin was charged and convicted, a review of more than 400 homicide cases reveals troubling disparities in application of the death penalty related to race. Between 1990 and 1995, the Orleans Parish District Attorney sought the death penalty in 32 out of 44 cases in which black defendants were charged with the murder of a white person. By comparison, the death penalty was requested in fewer than one-third of cases of blacks accused of murdering blacks and just more than one-fifth of cases involving white defendants and victims. In this period, only blacks were actually sentenced to death.
A similar pattern can be found nation-wide. Although blacks and whites are the victims of homicide in roughly equal numbers in the United States, more than 81 percent of the 500 people executed between 1977 and the end of 1998 were convicted of the murder of a white person. At present, roughly half of the more than 3500 people on death row are people of colour.
...
Treated as Criminals: Arbitrary detention of asylum seekers
...
They are held in conditions that are sometimes inhuman and degrading. Asylum-seekers in the US are liable to be stripped, shackled and sometimes verbally or physically abused. Many are confined with convicted criminals or suspected criminals, but - unlike criminals - are excluded from bail and have no idea when they will be released. Asylum seekers detained in the US are often denied access to their families, and to lawyers and organizations who could help them.
...
US policies and practices, which result in the indefinite detention of most of those who seek asylum in the USA, violate international human rights standards. The international body with statutory responsibility for refugees is the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The UNHCR?s Executive Committee (EXCOM) is an intergovernmental body of more than 50 states. EXCOM's conclusions, which are adopted by consensus, are regarded as authoritative in the field of refugee rights.
The US, as a member of EXCOM, has explicitly endorsed these recommendations. In reality, however, the US defies these international standards in its treatment of asylum-seekers.
...
An official investigation of one facility contracted to the INS revealed widespread abuse of detainees including ?harassment, verbal abuse and other degrading actions? by guards, as well as sub-standard medical care.
...
Children who need protection from persecution in their country of origin reportedly continue to be separated from their families and held in prison-like conditions, in breach of international standards. The USA?s obligations towards refugee children, as defined by the international community, are based on the principle that the best interests of the child should be paramount and on the understanding that imprisonment of any juvenile should be a last resort.
...
For example, the US is only one of 10 countries that have not ratified the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and one of only two countries which have not ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The failure of the US government to address police brutality and abuse of prisoners and end state executions contravenes the standards of the international community and specific international treaties to which the US is bound.
...
Even under the most sophisticated death penalty statutes, race continues to play a major role in determining who shall live and who shall die." - Justice Blackmun, formerly of the US Supreme Court, 1994
...
In the same Lousiana district where Cousin was charged and convicted, a review of more than 400 homicide cases reveals troubling disparities in application of the death penalty related to race. Between 1990 and 1995, the Orleans Parish District Attorney sought the death penalty in 32 out of 44 cases in which black defendants were charged with the murder of a white person. By comparison, the death penalty was requested in fewer than one-third of cases of blacks accused of murdering blacks and just more than one-fifth of cases involving white defendants and victims. In this period, only blacks were actually sentenced to death.
A similar pattern can be found nation-wide. Although blacks and whites are the victims of homicide in roughly equal numbers in the United States, more than 81 percent of the 500 people executed between 1977 and the end of 1998 were convicted of the murder of a white person. At present, roughly half of the more than 3500 people on death row are people of colour.
...
Treated as Criminals: Arbitrary detention of asylum seekers
...
They are held in conditions that are sometimes inhuman and degrading. Asylum-seekers in the US are liable to be stripped, shackled and sometimes verbally or physically abused. Many are confined with convicted criminals or suspected criminals, but - unlike criminals - are excluded from bail and have no idea when they will be released. Asylum seekers detained in the US are often denied access to their families, and to lawyers and organizations who could help them.
...
US policies and practices, which result in the indefinite detention of most of those who seek asylum in the USA, violate international human rights standards. The international body with statutory responsibility for refugees is the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The UNHCR?s Executive Committee (EXCOM) is an intergovernmental body of more than 50 states. EXCOM's conclusions, which are adopted by consensus, are regarded as authoritative in the field of refugee rights.
The US, as a member of EXCOM, has explicitly endorsed these recommendations. In reality, however, the US defies these international standards in its treatment of asylum-seekers.
...
An official investigation of one facility contracted to the INS revealed widespread abuse of detainees including ?harassment, verbal abuse and other degrading actions? by guards, as well as sub-standard medical care.
...
Children who need protection from persecution in their country of origin reportedly continue to be separated from their families and held in prison-like conditions, in breach of international standards. The USA?s obligations towards refugee children, as defined by the international community, are based on the principle that the best interests of the child should be paramount and on the understanding that imprisonment of any juvenile should be a last resort.
...
For example, the US is only one of 10 countries that have not ratified the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women and one of only two countries which have not ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
The failure of the US government to address police brutality and abuse of prisoners and end state executions contravenes the standards of the international community and specific international treaties to which the US is bound.
...
Facebook
Twitter