Norway ratifies protocol on the abolition of the death penalty

Today Norway has ratified Protocol No. 13 to the European Human Rights Convention concerning the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances.

According to the new protocol, the ban on the death penalty is absolute. An existing protocol to the convention sets out that the death penalty should be abolished except in cases of crimes committed in war or under the threat of war.

The consequence of the ratification of the protocol is that the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg will have the authority to make binding decisions in cases where Norway is accused of violating the protocol. It will apply to Norway from 1 December 2005.

- - -

Proposition No. 57 (2004-2005) to the Storting on the ratification of Protocol No. 13 is available in Norwegian at:

http://www.dep.no/ud/norsk/dok/regpubl/stprp/032001-030186/dok-bu.html.

Proposition No. 90 (2004-2005) to the Odelsting on amendments to the Human Rights Act is available in Norwegian at:

http://www.dep.no/jd/norsk/dok/regpubl/otprp/012001-050118/dok-bu.html.