Death Penalty

Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford has called for tougher EU laws on the trade in instruments used in torture, repression and the death penalty, including drugs used in executions.

An Amnesty International report today, marking this week’s International Day against Torture, shows that torture instruments such as electric-shock belts are being marketed by EU companies while spiked batons are being promoted for sale in the EU and the sale of thumbscrews and leg irons is not banned.

Sarah Ludford (ALDE ). - Madam President, I am pleased that the rapporteur is backing the amendment that I originally tabled in committee on the need for European accountability for rendition and torture abuses if the EU is to lead in the promotion of human rights in the world. I hope it will get wide support in plenary and that we will also push all EU states to sign and ratify the Convention against Forced Disappearances.

Welcome to my London LibDem members’ update, where I let you know what I have been doing in the European Parliament and across the London region recently.

I’ve had the great privilege of being London’s Liberal Democrat Member of the European Parliament for a good while now, but the job continues to fascinate me. I still work a great deal on issues of justice and fighting crime, but the role of an MEP stretches to a great many other topics of concern to London and my constituents.

The European Commission has announced a proposed closing of loopholes in EU legislation which currently allows for the export of certain drugs that can be used in executions.

On the 9th annual World Day against the Death Penalty Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford is calling for decisive EU action to ensure that European drugs are never again used in American or other executions.

This comes after the use of a drug produced by a European firm in the recent and controversial execution of Troy Davis. Drugs intended as anaesthetics or treatment of eg epilepsy are being imported by US prisons for lethal injection cocktails after US production ceased.

Sarah Ludford who sponsored a European Parliament 'written declaration' calling for an EU-wide export ban on killer drugs said:

Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman Sarah Ludford MEP has condemned the possibly imminent and highly controversial execution of US death row prisoner Troy Davis. Not only is his conviction very unsafe but he is set to be killed by lethal injection with a cocktail of drugs including one apparently manufactured by a European company.

The EU is of course against the death penalty. Not only is ending capital punishment is a pre-condition for any country wishing to become a member of the Union but death penalty abolition is a key goal of the European Union's external policy.

The EU is the leader and the biggest funder of the campaign to abolish executions worldwide. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has made clear that she strongly opposes the death penalty and makes this external objective a personal priority.

Reacting to the announcement by Danish pharmaceutical company Lundbeck that it taking steps to stop its drug Nembutal generically known as pentobarbital being used in executions in US prisons Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford who is vice-chair of the European Parliament's delegation to the US said:

On Monday (June 6^th)Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford will launch together with colleagues from other countries and political groups a new European-level campaign to ban the export from the EU of drugs used for executions.

EU law prohibits EU companies from exporting products intended to be used in executions or torture. But no export check is done on 'dual-use' drugs such as sodium thiopental and pentobarbital. These have a legitimate medicinal use but they have also been used to numb or even kill a person subject to the death penalty.