ABSTRACT: Resolution approved by the European Parliament on 14th may 1987 DOC.B2 356/87 on the death sentence passed on Paula Cooper

THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

A. WHEREAS PAULA COOPER,WHO IS GUILTY OF A CRIME COMMITTED AT THE AGE OF 15,HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO DEATH AND IS WAITING,IN THE WOMEN'S SECTION OF INDIANAPOLIS PRISON, UNTIL SHE REACHES THE AGE OF MAJORITY IN ORDER TO BE EXECUTED,

B. WHEREAS IN 25 STATES OF THE UNION THE DEATH PENALTY IS STILL USED FOR MINORS AND IN CERTAIN STATES THEY ARE HELD UNDER LAW TO ATTAIN THE AGE OF CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY AT 13, 12 OR EVEN 10 YEARS,

C. WHEREAS THIS CASE CONCERNS A FRIENDLY, ALLIED COUNTRY WHOSE POLITICAL AND SOCIAL ORGANISATION IS BASED ON POLITICAL DEMOCRACY AND ON RESPECT FOR BASIC INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS,

D. WHEREAS ACCORDING TO AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL THERE ARE AT LEAST 32 MINORS AWAITING EXECUTION IN 15 STATES OF TH UNION,

E. WHEREAS THE SENTENCING OF MINORS MUST BE SEEN AS A CLEAR VIOLATION OF INTERNATIONAL NORMS AND CONVENTIONS ON HUMAN RIGHTS,

F. WHEREAS IN ADDITION TO THE EXTREME SEVERITY OF THE SENTENCE THERE IS THE EVEN MORE SHAMEFUL FACT - IF SUCH A THING IS POSSIBLE - THAT CONDEMNED CRIMINALS MUST WAIT IN AD HOC PRISON DEPARTMENTS UNTIL THEY HAVE REACHED THE AGE OF LEGAL MAJORITY BEFORE THEY ARE EXECUTED,

G. WHEREAS THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT HAS VOTED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY,

H. WHEREAS IT VOTED IN FAVOUR OF A RESOLUTION TO THIS EFFECT BY A LARGE MAJORITY ON 18 JUNE 1981,

I. WHEREAS THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT IS IN NO WAY EXPRESSING A VIEW AS TO THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE CRIME COMMITTED BY PAULA COOPER,

1. APPEALS TO THE AUTHORITIES OF THE DIFFERENT STATES OF THE UNION WHERE THE DEATH PENALTY IS STILL IN FORCE TO SUSPEND ALL DEATH SENTENCES;

2. CALLS ON THEM ALSO TO REVISE THEIR LEGISLATION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO THE EFFECT THAT DEATH SENTENCES ARE AUTOMATICALLY COMMUTED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT;

3. CALLS ON THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES OF THE UNITED STATES TO REVISE THE LEGISLATION ON THE LIABILITY FOR PUNISHMENT OR THE CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY OF MINORS SO THAT IT CONFORMS TO THE LEGISLATION IN FORCE IN MOST DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES AND TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CHARTERS AND CONVENTIONS ON RESPECT FOR BASIC INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS;

4. CALLS ON THE COUNCIL , THE COMMISSION AND THE MEMBER STATES TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT, AS A GESTURE OF GOOD WILL,THE STATE OF INDIANA,THROUGH A DECISION OF ITS GOVERNOR, COMMUTES THE DEATH PENALTY HANGING OVER PAULA COOPER TO IMPRISONMENT;

5. INSTRUCTS ITS PRESIDENT TO FORWARD THIS RESOLUTION TO THE COUNCIL, THE COMMISSION, THE MEMBER STATES, THE AMERICAN FEDERAL AUTHORITIES AND THE AUTHORITIES OF THE STATE OF INDIANA .