OHCHR / ALABAMA EXECUTION

The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) warned that execution by nitrogen gas is not only unacceptable but may amount to torture, or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. UNTV CH

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:17
• Production Date: 26 January 2024
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS - OHCHR
• Subject Topical: HUMAN RIGHTS
• Geographic Subject: UNITED STATES
• MAMS Id: 3167437
• Parent Id: 3167437
• Alternate Title: unifeed240126c

Description

STORY: OHCHR / ALABAMA EXECUTION
TRT: 01:26
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 26 JANUARY 2024, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, exterior, Palais des Nations
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“We saw that the authorities issued a statement saying that it worked, and it is a satisfactory method of execution. It is not. It is not. It could amount to torture, inhuman, degrading treatment in violation of the treaties, the human rights treaties that the United States has signed.”
3. Med shot, briefing room
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“So, we are very worried that this could open the door to further executions. And this is why we feel the need to speak out again clearly that this is not acceptable.”
5. Wide shot, briefing room
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“We deeply regret the execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith in Alabama despite serious concerns this novel and untested method of suffocation by nitrogen gas may amount to torture, or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.”
7. Wide shot, briefing room
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR):
“The death penalty is inconsistent with the fundamental right to life. We urge all States to put in place a moratorium on its use, as a step towards universal abolition,” the spokesperson stated.
9. Wide shot, briefing room

Storyline

The UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) today (26 Jan) warned that execution by nitrogen gas is not only unacceptable but may amount to torture, or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

This follows the execution on Thursday night (25 Jan) in Alabama of Kenneth Eugene Smith.

“We saw that the authorities issued a statement saying that it worked, and it is it’s a satisfactory method of execution. It is not. It is not. It could amount to torture, inhuman, degrading treatment in violation of the treaties, the human rights treaties that the United States has signed,” said UN Human Rights Office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani.

Shamdasani noted that, in addition to Alabama, Mississippi and Oklahoma have approved execution by nitrogen suffocation, and a bill has been presented in Nebraska to approve its use.

“So, we are very worried that this could open the door to further executions. And this is why we feel the need to speak out again clearly that this is not acceptable,” she told the regular press briefing in Geneva.

“We deeply regret the execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith in Alabama despite serious concerns this novel and untested method of suffocation by nitrogen gas may amount to torture, or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment,” Shamdasani stressed.

“The death penalty is inconsistent with the fundamental right to life. We urge all States to put in place a moratorium on its use, as a step towards universal abolition,” Shmadasani said.