United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary...

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson and Asma Jahangir, the Commission's Special Rapporteur on summary or arbitrary executions, expressed deep regret over the execution of Gary Graham, a prisoner who had been convicted of a crime committed when he was still a juvenile. "I believe the execution of Mr. Graham ran counter to widely accepted international principles and to the international community's expressed desire for the abolition of the death penalty", Mrs. Robinson said, recalling that she had written to Gov. George W. Bush of Texas appealing for a stay of execution. In her 21 June letter to Governor Bush, the High Commissioner wrote that the overwhelming international consensus that the death penalty should not apply to juvenile offenders stems from the recognition that young persons lack maturity and judgment and thus cannot be expected to be fully responsible for their actions. "More importantly", she continued, "it reflects the belief that children and juveniles are more susceptible to change, and thus have a greater potential for rehabilitation than adults". According to Asma Jahangir, the execution of Gary Graham was evidence of disregard for the growing international movement for abolition of the death penalty. It was also disturbing that Mr. Graham had been arrested as a juvenile offender. "Only a handful of countries continue to execute citizens who were minors at the time of the crimes they had been convicted of committing", she said. The Special Rapporteur acknowledged the need to bring perpetrators of crimes to justice, but added that "this purpose is not in any served better by executing people -- a punishment which is irreversible and deprives individuals of their basic right to life".