Situation during visit in 2005 (See E/CN.4/2006/6/Add.6) compensation proportionate to the gravity of the physical and mental harm suffered, and adequate medical treatment and rehabilitation. (p) Death row prisoners should not be subjected to additional punishment such as being handcuffed and shackled. rights by any State organ or functionary, but it contained an exception clause for criminal cases where confessions were “intentionally fabricated” or other “evidence of guilt” was falsified. At the Beijing Municipality Detention Centre, death row prisoners awaiting appeal were handcuffed and shackled with leg irons for 24 hours a day and in all circumstances. (q) The restoration of Supreme Court review for all death sentences should be utilized as an opportunity to publish national statistics on the application of the death penalty. The SPC restored its power of review in October 2005. Steps taken in previous years (See A/HRC/4/33/Add.2 and A/HRC/7/3/Add.2) Information received on steps taken since December 2007/current situation going through a painstaking process. • 2006: The Government announced that it was planning to implement the full audiovisual recording of appellate court proceedings in death penalty cases. 2007: The SPC resumed review of death penalty sentences as of Jan 2007; Official accounts estimate a drop in the number of executions by 30% in 2007 compared to 2006 as a result of a reduction in death Non-governmental sources: No information has been received on new practices abolishing the handcuffing and shackling of death row prisoners. Some convicts were reportedly denied a final farewell visit by their families prior to their execution. • The Government has increased the use of lethal injections to replace executions by shooting people in the neck. • New reports were received about harvesting of organs from death row prisoners and Falun Gong practitioners. Non-governmental sources: Statistics on the application and execution of the death penalty are not published, which contributes to the perception of secrecy and makes it difficult to assess any true progress following the resumption of the SPC’s review function; No statistical data on death sentences and A/HRC/10/44/Add.5 page 15 Recommendation (E/CN.4/2006/6/Add.6)

Select target paragraph3

Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents