How states abolish the death penalty
Historical archive
Published under: Stoltenberg's 2nd Government
Publisher: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
A publication by The International Commission against the Death Penalty. Foreword by Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide
Speech/statement | Date: 16/04/2013
"Norway gives high priority to the fight against the death penalty, and we oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. Killing sanctioned by the state dehumanises society", Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide writes in his foreword in a publication by The International Commission against the Death Penalty.
Norway gives high priority to the fight against the death penalty, and we oppose the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. Killing sanctioned by the state dehumanises society. It is not an effective deterrent, and we know that innocent people have been executed in a number of cases. The death penalty is cruel and inhuman and we believe its abolition is essential in order to protect human dignity. And we are not alone.
Currently, an estimated 150 UN Member States have abolished the death penalty or have introduced a moratorium, either in law or in practice. Moreover states that favour abolition of the death penalty have different legal systems and cultural and religious traditions.
Public support for the death penalty is diminishing. Nevertheless, governments need to take the lead in national debates on issues of this nature. Most countries that have abolished the death penalty have done so despite public opposition, and yet people in those countries have quickly come to accept this reform.
The more familiar people are with the facts surrounding the death penalty, the less resistant they are to its abolition. It is therefore important for states to show greater transparency with regard to the use of the death penalty. In the long term, this could foster an open debate based on facts.
The purpose of this publication is to give examples of how governments have proceeded in abolishing capital punishment and to provide guidelines for states considering such a move. The aim has been to provide sound, practical and relevant guidelines that will inspire states to abolish the death penalty.
The mandate of the International Commission against the Death Penalty (ICDP) is to reinforce the fight against the death penalty in all regions of the world. The ICDP aims to supplement the actions carried out by international and regional organisations, civil society and representatives of the political world.
Norway is honoured to support and assist the ICDP in its current role as president of the ICDP cross-regional support group. We are also pleased to be one of the main partners and sponsors of the Fifth World Congress against the Death Penalty, to be held in Madrid in June 2013.
It is no longer a question of if we will achieve full abolition, but of when. Following on from this it is natural to ask: Which countries will be the last to take this step? Who will be the last to join the global trend? I hope that this publication will further strengthen the international movement away from the death penalty.
Oslo, April 2013
More information: http://www.icomdp.org/