Top UN rights official appeals to US Government to stay execution of Mexican national
The United Nations top human rights official today appealed to the United States Government to stay the execution of a Mexican national who is on death row in Texas, so that his case might be reviewed.
The United Nations top human rights official today appealed to the United States Government to stay the execution of a Mexican national who is on death row in Texas, so that his case might be reviewed.
In a letter to US Secretary of State Colin Powell, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson wrote that, according to representations made to her, Javier Suarez Medina's right as a foreign national to seek legal assistance from his consulate as established by the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, was not respected.
According to the High Commissioner, there were serious concerns that the trial proceedings in the case of Mr. Suarez Medina did not comply with international human rights standards, in particular the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and safeguards guaranteeing protection of the rights of those facing the death penalty.
Mr. Suarez Medina, whose execution is scheduled for tomorrow, was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in 1989.