Interactive Dialogue with Morris Tidball-Binz, Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions
Statement by the Delegation of the United States of America
As delivered by Joanna Coyne
Human Rights Council – 53rd Session
Thank you, Mr. Vice President.
Thank you, Special Rapporteur Tidball-Binz for your work.
The United States abhors all extrajudicial executions. They contravene international human rights law and every notion of humanity.
Tragically, we continue to hear reports of extrajudicial killings and summary executions from around the world. As just one example, the High Commissioner, in his December 2022 report on this topic in the context of Russia’s war against Ukraine, documented hundreds of civilian deaths as a result of acts committed by Russia’s forces.
We call for all governments to fulfil their obligations under international law: to respect the right to life and to hold perpetrators of human rights violations accountable.
We appreciate that your report on deaths in prisons includes best practices, citing positive examples from Texas and California as well as New Zealand, South Africa, and Spain, among other countries.
We also welcome your focus on intersecting issues and vulnerabilities, including on the basis of age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics.
Mr. Special Rapporteur, what steps are you planning to take to continue to drive positive change in governments’ laws, policies, and practices?
I thank you.
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