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AN INTERNATIONAL CALL TO END ALL EXECUTIONS OF JUVENILE OFFENDERS:

Implement the Prohibition against the Juvenile Death Penalty in Law and Practice 

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Every state in the world has ratified or acceded to treaties obligating them to ensure that juvenile offenders--persons under 18 at the time of the crime-are never sentenced to death. The overwhelming majority of states comply with this obligation: only five states* are known to have executed juvenile offenders since 2005.

Yet over the last 3 ½ years at least 32 people in these five states have been executed for crimes committed while children, and well over 100 other juvenile offenders are known to be on death row. The true number of executions and death sentences could be much higher, as few countries make public information on death sentences against juvenile offenders.

The prohibition on the juvenile death penalty is absolute in treaty and customary law, but some states continue to execute juveniles offenders convicted of certain crimes, or allow judges to treat children as adults if the child shows signs of puberty. Even in states with clear legislation outlawing capital punishment for persons under 18 at the time of the crime, judges sometimes treat children as adults in capital cases because low rates of birth registration make it difficult for children to prove their age at the time of the crime, or because the child lacked access to competent legal assistance at crucial points during arrest, investigation and trial.

We, as local, national, regional, and international non-governmental organizations from every part of the world, call on each UN member state to fully implement the absolute ban on the juvenile death penalty, as required by customary law, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and as highlighted by the Secretary-General's recent study on violence against children.

We also urge United Nations member states at the 2008 UN General Assembly to:

1. Call on states that have yet to fully prohibit the juvenile death penalty to:

• Immediately enact legislation banning the imposition of capital punishment on persons who were under 18 at the time of the crime, without exceptions.
• Immediately implement a moratorium on all executions of persons convicted of crimes committed before age 18, pending passage of legislation banning the juvenile death penalty.
• Review all existing death sentences passed on persons who were under 18 at the time of the crime and immediately commute those sentences to custodial or other sentences in conformity with international juvenile justice standards.
  

2. Call on states that have banned the juvenile death penalty to:

• Ensure that children in conflict with the law have prompt access to legal assistance, including assistance in proving their age at the time of an alleged offense, and require police, prosecution, and judicial authorities to record the ages of children who come before them.
• Promote universal birth registration.
• Ensure that judicial authorities understand and enforce the ban on the juvenile death penalty, including by providing judges and prosecutors with training on its application, and by ordering a review of all death sentences where there is doubt that the individual was over 18 at the time of the offense.
  

3. Request the UN Secretary General to submit a report to the 64th session of the General Assembly on compliance with the absolute ban on the juvenile death penalty, including information on

• the number of juvenile offenders currently sentenced to death, and the number executed during the last 5 years;
• rates of birth registration
• states' implementation of relevant domestic legislation, including mechanisms ensuring juvenile offenders have legal assistance at all stages of investigation and trial;
• any other obstacles to full implementation of the ban on the juvenile death penalty.
  

Deadline for signing the petition is 13 October.

NOTE: please note that this petition is for organisations, not individuals. Thank you.

*Between January 1, 2005 and September 2, 2008, the following states are known to have executed 32 juvenile offenders: Iran (26), Saudi Arabia (2), Sudan (2), Pakistan (1), Yemen (1).

**

Organisational signatures:

Albania

ARCT Albanian Rehabilitation Centre for Trauma and Torture Survivors

Partnere per Femijet

Algeria

Algerian Network Defending Child Rights

Association for the Promotion and Progress of Children in Khenchela (ACTE)

Fondation algerienne de la sauvegarde des droits de l'enfant

Argentina

Colectivo de derechos de Infancia y Adolescencia

Consejo de los Derechos de Ninos, Ninas y Adolescentes - Ciudad de Buenos Aires

Defensa de Niñas y Niños Internacional - Sección Argentina

Aruba

Community & Crime Research Foundation Aruba

Telefon pa Hubentud Aruba - Child Helpline Aruba

Australia

Human Rights Centre

Universal Rights Network

Austria

KIJA

Kinder- und Jugendanwaltschaft des landes Kärnten

Kinder- und Jugendanwaltschaft Tirol

Kinder+Jugendanwaltschaft Steiermark

Azerbaijan

Human Rights Center of Azerbaijan

Bahrain

Amnesty International - Bahrain

Bahrain Center for Human Rights

Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society (BHRWS)

Bahrain Youth Society For Human Rights

Hawar Society

Bangladesh

Bangladesh Institute of Human Rights (BIHR)

Bhagni Nivedita Manchya (BNM)

Hotline Human Rights Bangladesh

Integrated Social Development Effort (ISDE) Bangladesh

Belgium

ACAT België-Vlaanderen

Bureau International Catholique de l'Enfance

DCI-Belgium (Flanders)

International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR)

Kinderrechtencoalitie Vlaanderen VZW

Ligue des droits de l'Homme LDH

Office of the Children's Rights Commissioner

UNICEF Belgium

Benin

AUTRE VIE

Bolivia

Asociacion de mujeres

Brazil

Agência de Notícias da Infância Matraca

Fórum DCA/PR

Fundação Nosso Lar

Shirley Ann Sullivan Educational Foundation

Bulgaria

Bulgarian Helsinki Committee

Burkina Faso

Centre for Global Health Right

Cameroon

Global Welfare Association (GLOWA)

GOCAR-CAM

Ligue Camerounaise des Droits Humains (LCDH)

Canada

Cape Breton University Children's Rights Centre

Centre de ressources sur la non-violence

Defence for Children International Canada

Spare A Life Society

Stop Child Executiions

Chile

Escuela de Trabajo Social, Universidad Academia de Humanismo Cristiano

Red de Ongs de Infancia y Juventud Chile

Colombia

CINDE

World Vision

Congo, Democratic Republic of the

Action de la Jeunesse Volontaire pour l'Enfance

Congolese Action for Peace and Democracy(CAPD)

HUMAN RESCUE

Solidarité avec les Victimes et pour la Paix/SOVIP-asbl

Costa Rica

ACJ de Costa Rica

Cote d'Ivoire

Asociación Elín

Justice et renouveau dans un univers de cooperation et d’integration (JERUCI)

Dominican Republic

Coalicion de ONGs por la Infancia

Save the Children Dominican Republic

Ecuador

Asociación Solidaridad y Acción ASA

COMISIÓN ECUMÉNICA DE DERECHOS HUMANOS, CEDHU

Defense for Children International

Foro Ecuatoriano de Organizaciones por la Niñez y Adolescencia

Egypt

Arab Council for Childhood & Development

Arabic Network for Human Rights Information

Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression

Budgetary and Human Rights Observatory

Civic Monitors For Human Rights

Egyptian Association for Economic and Social Rights

Egyptian Center for Human Rights

Egyptian Center for the Rights of the Child

Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR)

Elhaq Center for Democracy and Human Rights

Eskenderella Association for Cultures and Arts

Land Center for Human Rights

Patriotic center for human rights

Save the Children

The Egyptian Alliance to Challenge the Death Penalty

El Salvador

Plan International

Red para la Infancia y la Adolescencia

Ethiopia

Orphan and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Network Ethiopia

France

Action of Christians Against Torture (ACAT-France)

Artists without frontiers

Centre pour la promotion et la défense des droits de l'enfant( CPDE)

Club des Amis du Village - RéCoSol - GESS France - Togo - Europe

Enfant Droit

Euro Sat

FIACAT

GISEE/RéCoSol - GESS France

International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)

Libertés-Culture

OPEN ASIA/Armanshahr Foundation

OMCT

SPIDH

Tourner la page

World Coalition Against the Death Penalty (WCADP)

Gambia

Aid The Children Network

Germany

ACAT

Azadegy

I.F.J

Jugend Komitee

Q-BuS; Qualitätsentwicklung in Bildung und Schule

Stop Child Executions

Ghana

Centre for Counseling and Development (CECODEV)

Greece

Chatzikiriakio Child Care Institution

The Smile of the Child

XATZIKIRIAKIO INSTITUTION

Guinea

La Samaritaine-Guinee

India

HAQ: Centre for Child Rights

Protection of Students' Rights Association

Rural Uplift Centre, Tamilnadu

Indonesia

Info Kriminologi

JALA PRT (National Network of Domestic Workers Advocacy)

Pusat Kajian dan Perlindungan Anak (PKPA)/Center for Study and Child Protection

Rumpun Tjoet Njak Dien Yogyakarta

Iran, Islamic Republic of

Association of Iranian Journalists

Committee for the Defense of Azerbaijani Political Prisoners - ASMEK

Human Rights Working Group of The Organization of Iranian People’s Fedaian (Majority)

The Society for Protection of Handicapped Children and Youth (SPHCY)

Iraq

Cultural Association for Iraq's Youth

Cultural Center For Human Rights (CCHR)

Cultural Creativity Society

Democracy and Social Support

Iraqi Centre for Human Rights and Democracy Studies

Iraqi No Violence Group

Iraqi Woman’s League

Public Awareness Society

Relief International (RI)

Uruk Independent Organization for Media

Ireland

Children's Rights Alliance

Israel / Palestinian Territories, Occupied

AL-Dameer Association For Human Rights

Children, Play and Education

Defence for Children International / Israel Section

Defence for Children International / Palestine Section

Ensan Center for democracy & human rights

Israeli National Council of Women

National Association for Democracy and Law

National Union of Palestinian Civil Associations

Palestinian Child Club

Japan

C-Rights/Japan International Center for the Rights of the Child

Polaris Project - Japan

Save the Children - Japan

Jordan

Arab Women Media Center

National Association of SOS Jordan

Penal Reform International, MENA Office

Kuwait

Women's Social Participation Foundation

Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyz Committee for Human Rights

Latvia

Eurydice Unit of Latvia

NGO Centre of Liepaja

Save the Children - Latvia

SIA Altrans

Lebanon

Children and Youth Center

Palestinian Association for Human Rights (Rased- Monitor)

Palestinian Human Rights Organization - PHRO

Libyan Arab Jamahiriya

Alamal Charity Orphanage

Liechtenstein

National Rehabilitation and Development Center (NRDC)

Lithuania

National Institution of Social Care and Vocational Training

Madagascar

Faculté de droit Antananarivo

Malaysia

Casram Asia Berhad

Institute of Gerontology at Putra Univ.

Mexico

Centro de Derechos Humanos Fray Bartolomé de Las Casas, AC

Colectivo Feminista Mercedes Olivera y Bustamante, A. C. (COFEMO)

Fundación Junto Con los Niños

Maderas del Pueblo del Sureste, AC

Red de Investigadoras por la Vida y la Libertad de las Mujeres

Red por los Derechos de la Infancia en México

Ririki Internvencion Social

Mongolia

Amnesty International Mongolia

Montenegro

Montenegrin Helsinki Committee for Human Rights

The League of Women Voters in Montenegro

Morocco / Western Sahara

Alwaha for Childhood

Asociacio, sur para la emigracio, y el desarrollo

Association AL KHAIMA

Association de forum de l'enfance

Association Marocaine des Droits Humains

ASSFE

Forum de l'enfance

La coalition Marocaine contre la peine de mort

Moroccan Space for Democracy and Modernism

Organisation Marocaine Des Droits Humains (OMDH)

People's Rights Center

SAEP Education

Saharawi Journalists and Writers Union (UPES)

Nepal

Creating Possibilities - Nepal

Esther Benjamins Trust, Nepal

Save the Children Sweden regional office for South and Central Asia

Netherlands

ACAT Netherlands

Defence for Children International - ECPAT Netherlands

IKV Pax Christi

International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran

Iranian LGBT Human Rights Organisation

Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO)

Stichting Jubilee Campaign Nederland

Niger

DEI-NIGER

CROISADE

Nigeria

DCI –NIGERIA

Norway

Amnesty International – Norway

Defend International

Iran Human Rights

Nordic Committee on Human Rights

Pakistan

Awaz Foundation Pakistan: Centre for Development

Mountain Institute of Educational Development - MIED Pakistan

Peoples' Awareness & Rights Committees (PARC-Network)

SABAWON (Social Action Bureau for Assistance in Welfare & Organizational Networking)

Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC)

Paraguay

Coordinadora por los Derechos de la Infancia y la Adolescencia

Peru

Asociacion Benefica Huaynas

Centro de Estudios y Acción para la Paz

Philippines

Center for the Promotion, Advocacy and Protection of the Rights of the Child

Kabataang Gabay sa Positibong Pamumuhay (KGPP), Inc. (Peers for a Positive Way of Life)

Kyabaan Association, Inc

World Vision International - Philippines

Portugal

Missionarios Combonianos do Coração de Jesus

Saudi Arabia

Human Rights First Society

Senegal

Coordination des associations marocaines au SENEGAL

La Lumière

Serbia

Anima sanctuary

ASTRA-Anti Trafficking Action

Center for Girls - Nis

EKO-LOR

Hera Women`s Club

South Africa

Xaveri Movement

Spain

CEAR

Col·lectiu DRARI دراري d'IAP pels Drets de l'Infant

Comisiones Obreras

Cultura de Paz

FPC - Fundación Psicología y Cristianismo

OBSERVATORIO DE LA INFANCIA EN ANDALUCÍA

Orthon

SOS RACISMO Gipuzkoa

Sudan

Darfur Bar Association, Khartoum

Khartoum Center for Human Rights & Environmental Development (KCHRED)

Sweden

International Save Humanity Committee

Save the Children - Sweden

World Childhood Foundation

Youth Alive Association

Switzerland

ASPI Associazione Svizzera per la Protezione dell'Infanzia, Svizzera Italiana

CODAP

Defence for Children International (DCI) - International Secretariat

Inter Community School of Zurich

MSF

International Federation of Social Workers

Swiss Association for Child Protection

World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)

Syrian Arab Republic

Cham Center for Democratic and Human Rights Studies

Committee for the Defense of Democracy Freedoms and Human Rights in Syria

Environmental and Social Developmental center

Good Shepherd Sisters

Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression

Syrian Human Rights Committee

Tanzania, United Republic of

ECD Partners Tanzania

Tunisia

CNLT

Turkey

Association for Promoting, Spreading and Implementing Children’s Rights and Monitoring the Practices (Gündem: Çocuk!)

Fondation des droits de l'homme

Gen Hayat Foundation

İBB

International Children's Center

Objective Group

SOHRAM-CASRA Centre d'Action Social Rehabilitation et Réadaptation pour la victime de la Torture

Sosyal Sorumluluk Derneği

TESEV

TOG

United Kingdom

Action by Christians Against Torture

Casa Alianza

Child Hope UK

Children's Rights Alliance for England

Consortium for Street Children

Fair Play for Children

FRISHTA CHILDREN'S VILLAGE

Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children

ISS UK

Jubilee Action

Kids Go Free

Penal Reform International

Save the Children UK

UCL Student Human Rights Programme

United States

African American Juvenile Justice Project

American Society for Adolescent Psychiatry

Center for Community Alternatives

Death Penalty Focus

Defence for Children International

Florida State University Public Interest Law Center

Journey of Hope

Juvenile Justice Coalition (Ohio)

Kurdish American Committee for Democracy in Iran-KNCNA

Kurdish Women Rights Committee, KNCNA

Loyola University Civitas Child Law Center

Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency

Murder Victims' Families for Human Rights

Public Defender's Office - Hillsborough County, Tampa, FL

Sisters of the Good Sheppard

Southern Juvenile Defender Center

Stop Child Executions

Suffolk University Law School, Juvenile Justice Center, Boston, MA USA

Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (TCADP)

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law, Juvenile Justice Clinic

Uruguay

INAU

Venezuela

Asociación de Scouts de Venezuela

Cecodap

Observatorio de Infancia y Juventud

Viet Nam

Fédération des Khmers du Kampuchea Krom - Europe

Yemen

Civil Development Foundation- EFAA

International

Amnesty International

Child Rights Information Network - CRIN

Human Rights Watch