Da: "coalit" Oggetto: [listacoalit] Fw: ACTION: Part 1, state assisted suicide Data: mercoledė 17 ottobre 2001 22.23 Hello everyone. I am forwarding two parts of an urgent appeal. Please do take the time to help with this. Actually, Christa's case is something I had already heard about in a previous campaign to help. (Maybe you also recognise her name) Her family were asking if anyone could send her a message of support. They stress that she will not respond positively to lots of emails urging her to keep on with her appeals, and they would prefer people not to metion this. Instead please let her know that there are people thinking of her, and that there are people who care. If this is somethng you are also interested in doing then please send the emails to: christa_pike@hotmail.com Bye for now Amy URGENT ALERT: SUPPORT DEATH ROW WOMEN Updated and reissued 16th October 2001 Issues: · Mentally ill, brain damaged young woman at risk of state assisted suicide in Tennessee; · Cruel and unsafe conditions on women's death row. Background: Christa Gail Pike, aged 24, is one of only two female death row inmates at Tennessee Prison for Women in Nashville. Christa was convicted in 1996 of the murder of Colleen Slemmer. She was then sentenced to death. Christa was 18 at the time of the crime. Christa has asked to drop her remaining appeals and proceed to execution. Her family and supporters feel that her decision to go forward to execution is the result of both her mental illness and brain damage and the inhumane and unsafe conditions she is currently enduring at the Tennessee Prison for Women. These are as follows: · Christa's personal goods have been confiscated on an ongoing basis for some years. Christa's family and supporters indicate they currently have some twenty boxes of Christa's confiscated possessions. These include personal hygiene items, reading, religious and hobby material. In August last year prison officers confiscated everything in Christa's cell, including her Bible and rosary beads, as punishment for keeping one of her anti-depressant tablets in her cell. They also took away her visitation rights (except for her attorneys) for six months. · In February this year prison officers found another two of Christa's anti-depressant tablets in her cell. As punishment, Christa's visitation rights (except for attorneys) were suspended for a further year. · Christa has received completely inadequate health care at the prison, particularly given her status as a person with a mental illness. As an example of the standard of health care, the prison offers no dental treatment to inmates apart from tooth extraction. When Christa had problems with her teeth, the dentist stated that this was due to the inadequate prison diet and recommended calcium supplements. The prison doctor, however, refused permission for Christa to have these, even if paid for by her family. When her teeth needed dental work, this was denied, again in spite of offers by Christa's family to pay for the medication or send it to her directly. Christa finally had two teeth extracted, the only dental service the prison was willing to provide. Another example, Christa has had spider bites, ear infections and inflamed cysts that the doctor has refused to treat. When she has sought medical attention at the urging of her family, Christa has been accused of attention seeking. Christa has had to lance her own cysts on two occasions. · Inmates are fed only two meals per day on weekends and public holidays. Inmates whose families are able to provide money can purchase unhealthy junk food from the commissary. However, even this limited "privilege" has been withdrawn from Christa. Christa's supporters report that she had lost considerable weight when they saw her at an October court appearance and that she reports often being hungry. · Christa's phone privileges have been withdrawn. Deeply depressed and totally isolated, Christa has been unable to speak with her mother or other supporters. They are currently trying to dissuade her from suicide by correspondence. · Christa's television set has been confiscated. She is now sitting alone in her cell staring at the walls. Christa is sick and vulnerable young woman in need of help. In her desperation and despair, she is taking the only way out that she can see: state assisted suicide. It is her only means of protest at her years of neglect, suffering and mistreatment. The treatment of Christa (and other inmates) by the Tennessee Prison for Women fails to meet international standards and constitutes torture. It is even more dismally inadequate given the special responsibilities of prisons to inmates suffering from mental illness. Christa is effectively being manipulated into killing herself. Whatever one may think of the death penalty, it is clearly not the role of prisons to torture death row inmates into surrendering their entitlements to legal review. Regarding death row inmates as "non-people" on whom food and health care are wasted is unethical and inhumane. It is torture. The prison's treatment of Christa violates international standards in numerous respects. Under international law prisoners have the following rights: · Treatment of prisoners with respect due to their inherent dignity and value as human beings. They should be supported to develop self-respect and self-responsibility (Article 1 of the Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners, Article 10 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 65 of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, Principle 1 of the Body of Principles for the Protection of all Persons Under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment) · Reformation and social rehabilitation should be the essential aim of the treatment of prisoners. Prisoners should have their individual treatment needs addressed by all available and appropriate remedial, educational, moral and spiritual forms of assistance (Article 10 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 59 of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners) · Prisoners must not be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. This includes the holding of a prisoner in conditions which deprive her of the use of any of her natural senses. (Article 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 31 of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, Principle 6 of the Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons Under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment) · Solitary confinement is highly undesirable (Article 7 of the Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners) · Prisoners have the right to take part in cultural activities and education (Article 6 of the Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners) · Prisoners must have access to the same standard of health care services as other citizens (Article 9 of the Basic Principles for the Treatment of Prisoners) · Proper psychiatric care should be provided to prisoners suffering from mental illness. This may include transfer to a facility which more adequately addresses their special needs (Articles 21, 25, 62 and 82 of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners) · Prison medical officers should inform prison directors where a prisoner's physical or mental health has been or will be adversely affected by either ongoing imprisonment or by any condition of imprisonment (Article 25 of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners) · Sick prisoners in need of specialist treatment should be transferred to a specialised institution or to a civil hospital (Article 21 of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners) · Prisoners should not suffer disciplinary restrictions beyond that necessary for the maintenance of safe custody and well ordered community life. Their suffering should not be exacerbated (Articles 27 and 57 of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners) · Prisoners should not be punished in any way that jeopardises their physical or mental health. Prisoners being punished should have their physical and mental health checked by a medical officer on a daily basis. (Article 32 of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners) · Prisoners are to have access to facilities and materials to maintain "a good appearance compatible with self-respect" (International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights) · Prisoners should be allowed to receive visits from family and friends (Article 37 of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, Principle 19 of the Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons Under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment) · Prisoners should be regularly informed of important news items (Article 39 of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners) · Prison staff should be intelligent, well trained and educated, professional, have a social service orientation and be given reasonable remuneration and security of tenure (Articles 46, 47 and 48 of the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners) · Prisoners should have access to effective remedy where their rights are violated, including by a person acting in an official capacity (Article 2 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Principle 33 of the Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons Under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment)