VI. The Right to Life
Relevant international provisions
UDHR Article 3
Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
Article 6 ICCPR
1. Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by
law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.
2. In countries which have not abolished the death penalty, sentence of death may
be imposed only for the most serious crimes in accordance with the law in force at
the time of the commission of the crime and not contrary to the provisions of the
present Covenant and to the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the
Crime of Genocide. This penalty can only be carried out pursuant to a final
judgement rendered by a competent court.
3. When deprivation of life constitutes the crime of genocide, it is understood that
nothing in this article shall authorize any State Party to the present Covenant to
derogate in any way from any obligation assumed under the provisions of the
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
4. Anyone sentenced to death shall have the right to seek pardon or commutation of
the sentence. Amnesty, pardon or commutation of the sentence of death may be
granted in all cases.
5. Sentence of death shall not be imposed for crimes committed by persons below
eighteen years of age and shall not be carried out on pregnant women.
6. Nothing in this article shall be invoked to delay or to prevent the abolition of capital
punishment by any State Party to the present Covenant.
Arab Charter, Article 5
1. Every human being has the inherent right to life.
2. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.
Article 6
Sentence of death may be imposed only for the most serious crimes in accordance
with the laws in force at the time of commission of the crime and pursuant to a final
judgment rendered by a competent court. Anyone sentenced to death shall have the
right to seek pardon or commutation of the sentence.
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