UN HRC53:Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions Statement
Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions. Statement delivered by the UK.
Thank you Mr President [/ Madam-Vice President].
We thank the Special Rapporteur for this report.
The UK Government reaffirms our condemnation of extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions. As the report points out, the human rights of individuals in detention, including their right to life must be protected at all times. Deaths that occur in detention and custody must be investigated thoroughly, independently and fairly by States. The findings of these investigations are essential to informing prevention methods and addressing the root causes of deaths in custody.
The UK agrees with the report’s findings that deaths in the context of detention can be minimised by ensuring the conditions of prisons are in line with human rights standards. The UK calls upon all Member States to comply with international human rights law by doing everything in their power to prevent all deaths in detention, and to ensure unlawful deaths are effectively investigated and prosecuted.
Special Rapporteur,
Out of your recommendations to prevent deaths in custody, what are the key steps all States must take in fulfilling their obligations to protect the right to life in prisons?