UN: NAVY PILLAY CRITICIZES THE DEATH PENALTY FOR DRUG CRIMES

Navy Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, speaking on the impact of the international drug control regime on human rights said: “Concerning the right to life, Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights indicates that in States which have not yet abolished the death penalty, the sentence of death may be imposed only for the “most serious crimes.”
The Human Rights Committee has determined that the concept of “most serious crimes” applies only to the intentional taking of another life, and that the death penalty cannot be applied solely for drug offences. In spite of this, a significant number of States continue to sentence persons to death solely for issues relating to drugs.”