Article 6
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.
United Nations
/
United Nations
(World)
File type : Text