06/05/2009 Legal Affairs and Human Rights
Strasbourg, 06.05.2009 - The PACE rapporteur on abolition of the death penalty, Renate Wohlwend (Liechtenstein, EPP/CD), has welcomed the promise by the Laos authorities not to apply the death penalty against British national Samantha Orobator, who was allegedly caught smuggling drugs. The 20-year-old woman fell pregnant in prison and is due to give birth in September. "The death penalty is a terrible violation of the right to life at all times, but Samantha's case is a demonstration for all to see that death is not justice," said Mrs Wohlwend. PACE would continue to follow the case closely, she said.
The Council of Europe has succeeded in outlawing the death penalty on the European continent, with the exception of Belarus, and is campaigning for world-wide abolition, believing that the death penalty is a violation of human rights.
Death is not justice (brochure)