Another step in the efforts to abolish the death penalty

The seventh meeting of the International Commission against the Death Penalty (ICDP) took place in Oslo on 15 and 16 April 2013.

Judge Hanne Sophie Greve was formally admitted as a member of the Commission, which is made up of 15 highly reputed members who all have expertise in the field of human rights. Norway currently holds the Presidency of the Commission’s Support Group, and is assisted in this task by Switzerland and Argentina. These two countries were also represented at the meeting.

During a ceremony in the Oslo City Hall, the Commission launched its most recent publication, the report How States abolish the death penalty. The report examines the experiences of 13 countries that have taken steps to abolish the death penalty. State Secretary Gry Larsen hosted the launch of the report, which was attended by around a hundred guests, including a number of ambassadors serving in Oslo. Mayor of Oslo Fabian Stang gave a welcome address. Prior to the ceremony, Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide held a meeting with the Commission to discuss matters relating to the abolition of the death penalty.

Read the report How States abolish the death penalty here.

See photographs from the ceremony at Oslo City Hall on Flickr.