UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on Alabama execution, Tuesday 16 January
/
3:00
/
MP4
/
437.4 MB

Edited News | UNOG , OHCHR

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on Alabama execution, Tuesday 16 January

At the Bi-weekly press briefing of the United Nations in Geneva, UN Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani made the following comments on the Imminent execution by nitrogen asphyxiation in Alabama.

“We are alarmed by the imminent execution in the United States of Kenneth Eugene Smith, through the use of a novel and untested method – suffocation by nitrogen gas. This could amount to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment under international human rights law,” Shamdasani said.

The UN Human Rights Office calls on Alabama state authorities to halt Smith’s execution, scheduled for 25-26 January in Alabama, and for the authorities to refrain from taking further steps towards any other executions in this manner. Alabama already sought to execute Smith unsuccessfully by lethal injection, in 2022, and he has ongoing proceedings in federal court against his upcoming execution, proceeding which have not been finally resolved.

“Nitrogen gas has never been used in the United States to execute human beings. The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends giving even large animals a sedative when being euthanized in this manner, while Alabama’s protocol for execution by nitrogen asphyxiation makes no provision for sedation of human beings prior to execution. The protocol also refers to the odourless and colourless gas being administered for up to 15 minutes. Smith has also advanced, with expert evidence, that such an execution by gas asphyxiation in his case risks particular pain and suffering,” she said.

We have serious concerns that Smith’s execution in these circumstances could breach the prohibition on torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, as well as his right to effective remedies. These are rights set out in two International Human Rights treaties where the United States is bound by – these include the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,” the spokesperson said.

The Human Rights Committee, which is the international body charged with monitoring the implementation of the Covenant around the world, has also criticized the use of asphyxiation by gas as an execution method, the use of untested methods, as well as widening the use of the death penalty in States that continue to apply it.

“The death penalty is inconsistent with the fundamental right to life. There is an absence of proof that it deters crime, and it creates an unacceptable risk of executing innocent people. Rather than inventing new ways to implement capital punishment, we urge all States to put in place a moratorium on its use, as a step towards universal abolition,” Shamsdasani said.

The UN’s position is very clear we are against the death penalty we are against people being killed for having committed crimes. There is an absence of evidence that this deters crimes in any way. On the other side, there is a lot of evidence that the death penalty has been used in cases of miscarriages of justice that it is used against people who later turn out to be innocent, that is used disproportionately against minorities, in the US against people of African descent, it’s disproportionately used against people who don’t have the mean to defend themselves with proper legal representation of their choosing,” the spokesperson said.

For more information and media requests, please contact:

Ravina Shamdasani - + 41 22 917 9169 / ravina.shamdasani@un.org or

Liz Throssell + 41 22 917 9296 / elizabeth.throssell@un.org or

Marta Hurtado - + 41 22 917 9466 / marta.hurtadogomez@un.org

Tag and share

Twitter @UNHumanRights

Facebook unitednationshumanrights

Instagram @unitednationshumanrights

Tag and share - Twitter: @UNHumanRights and Facebook: unitednationshumanrights

STORY: UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on Imminent execution by nitrogen asphyxiation in Alabama

TRT: 02:59
SOURCE: OHCHR
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: English/French / NATS
ASPECT RATIO: 16:9
DATELINE: 16 January 2023 GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

SHOTLIST

  • Exterior shot: Wide shot entrance of Palais des Nations
  • Wide Shot: Briefing room
  • SOUNDBITE (English) – Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR): “We are alarmed by the imminent execution in the United States of Kenneth Eugene Smith, through the use of a novel and untested method – suffocation by nitrogen gas. This could amount to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment under international human rights law.”
  • Cut aways: Briefing room
  • SOUNDBITE (English) – Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR): “Nitrogen gas has never been used in the United States to execute human beings. The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends giving even large animals a sedative when being euthanized in this manner, while Alabama’s protocol for execution by nitrogen asphyxiation makes no provision for sedation of human beings prior to execution. The protocol also refers to the odourless and colourless gas being administered for up to 15 minutes. Smith has also advanced, with expert evidence, that such an execution by gas asphyxiation in his case risks particular pain and suffering.”
  • Cut aways: Briefing room
  • SOUNDBITE (English) – Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR): We have serious concerns that Smith’s execution in these circumstances could breach the prohibition on torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, as well as his right to effective remedies. These are rights set out in two International Human Rights treaties where the United States is bound by – these include the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.”
  • Cut aways: Briefing room
  • SOUNDBITE (English) – Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR): “The death penalty is inconsistent with the fundamental right to life. There is an absence of proof that it deters crime, and it creates an unacceptable risk of executing innocent people. Rather than inventing new ways to implement capital punishment, we urge all States to put in place a moratorium on its use, as a step towards universal abolition.”
  • Cut aways: Briefing room
  • SOUNDBITE (English) – Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR): The UN’s position is very clear we are against the death penalty, we are against people being killed for having committed crimes. There is an absence of evidence that this deters crimes in any way. On the other side, there is a lot of evidence that the death penalty has been used in cases of miscarriages of justice that it is used against people who later turn out to be innocent, that is used disproportionately against minorities, in the US against people of African descent, it’s disproportionately used against people who don’t have the mean to defend themselves with proper legal representation of their choosing.”
  • Cut aways: Briefing room
  • SOUNDBITE (English) – Ravina Shamdasani, Spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR):
  • Cut aways: Briefing room


Audio Files 1
Download UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani on Alabama execution, Tuesday 16 January (Edited Story)
Download

Similar Stories

HRC60 Press Conference: Report of the Sudan Fact-Finding Mission - 09 September 2025

2

1

2

Press Conferences , Edited News | HRC

HRC60 Press Conference: Report of the Sudan Fact-Finding Mission - 09 September 2025 ENG FRA

A high-level independent rights probe into the Sudan crisis on Tuesday condemned the many grave crimes committed against civilians by all parties to the war, citing disturbing evidence indicating that they had been “deliberately targeted, displaced and starved”.

Ukraine attacks - health update - WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Ukraine attacks - health update - WHO ENG FRA

Ukraine: ‘Relentless’ attacks rattle health system as winter approaches: WHO

Ambulances attacked, chronically ill patients lacking care and no peace in sight: for millions of Ukrainians, the run-up to another winter of war is just the latest life-or-death challenge they face, the UN health agency (WHO) said on Tuesday.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights presents report on Sri Lanka to 60th HRC

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights presents report on Sri Lanka to 60th HRC ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday delivered his report on Sri Lanka to the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

HRC 60 HC Volker Türk Global update speech

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

HRC 60 HC Volker Türk Global update speech ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday delivered his global update to the 60th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

DRC: UN report raises spectre of war crimes and crimes against humanity

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

DRC: UN report raises spectre of war crimes and crimes against humanity ENG FRA

A UN report on the Democratic Republic of Congo raises specter of war crimes and crimes against humanity in North and South Kivu, according to UN Human Rights Spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani.

Global air pollution update - WMO 04 September 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | WMO

Global air pollution update - WMO 04 September 2025 ENG FRA

As billions of people continue to breathe polluted air that causes more than 4.5 million premature deaths every year, UN climate experts on Friday highlighted how damaging microscopic smoke particles from wildfires play their part, travelling half-way across the world.

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Cameroon

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Cameroon ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Office Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence made the following comment on the on-going presidential election process in Cameroon at the bi-weekly press briefing in Geneva. 

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Myanmar

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Jeremy Laurence on Myanmar ENG FRA

The UN Human Rights Office released a new report on Myanmar, describing death, destruction and desperation which reflect atrocities committed in 2017. 

Afghanistan earthquake update OCHA - IFRC - UNHCR

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , IFRC , UNHCR

Afghanistan earthquake update OCHA - IFRC - UNHCR ENG FRA

Afghanistan: Humanitarians scramble to reach survivors of deadly quake; response at ‘breaking point’

In remote eastern Afghanistan, aid workers are racing to assist survivors of Sunday’s devastating earthquake as the death toll continues to climb, UN humanitarians said on Tuesday.

Gaza - Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA

1

1

1

Edited News | UNRWA

Gaza - Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA ENG FRA

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, repeated his urgent call for a ceasefire in Gaza on Friday, amid increased military Israeli activity in the enclave’s largest city.

Gaza update - OCHA WHO 29 August 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | OCHA , WHO

Gaza update - OCHA WHO 29 August 2025 ENG FRA

Amid reports of increased Israeli military operations across Gaza City on Friday, UN aid agencies repeated urgent warnings of ongoing famine and a likely rise in preventable disease, linked to the dire living conditions in the war-shattered enclave.

OHCHR-Ravina Shamdasani: increasing executions in Iran

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

OHCHR-Ravina Shamdasani: increasing executions in Iran ENG FRA

UN calls for Iran to halt executions and move towards ending the death penalty.