Asa Hutchinson: “H.R. 4888 is the Innocent Child Protection Act of 2000, which would make it unlawful for the Federal Government or any…”

“H.R. 4888 is the Innocent Child Protection Act of 2000, which would make it unlawful for the Federal Government or any State government to execute a woman while she is pregnant. This legislation was introduced by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) on July 19 and would fulfill the obligations of the United States under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. That covenant, which was ratified by the United States in 1992 and has been signed by 143 other countries, guarantees certain civil and political rights to all individuals within the jurisdiction of the various nations, including the right to be free from torture or cruel and inhumane and degrading treatment or punishment, the right to be free from slavery, and the right to liberty and security of person. The covenant also guarantees the right to freedom of expression, thought, conscience and religion; but of significance to today's legislation, article 6 of that covenant provides that a sentence of death shall not be carried out on a pregnant woman.”