The World Day against the Death Penalty is being arranged for the first time on 10 October 2003 on the initiative of the World Coalition against the Death Penalty, an international coalition of human rights organisations.

Norway is demonstrating its opposition to the death penalty by aligning itself with a declaration issued by the EU in connection with the World Day. The purpose of the declaration is to convince more countries to abolish the death penalty.

Norway is against the death penalty in all situations because it is violates the principle of the sanctity of human life.

"The campaign against the death penalty is working. Since 1990 over 35 countries have abolished this form of punishment or reduced the number of offences for which it can be used as a penalty, or refrain from using it. Norway is seeking to strengthen this global trend," said State Secretary Vidar Helgesen at the Foreign Ministry.