Ministerial Meeting on the Abolition of the Death Penalty

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Norway commends Italy’s initiative. It is bold, timely and of fundamental importance. Norway is a staunch defender of human rights, the dignity of the individual and the principle of humanity.

Norway is fundamentally opposed to the death penalty, as it is wholly inconsistent with these principles. We are convinced that a worldwide abolition of the death penalty will enhance human dignity and respect for life.

While we are conscious of the suffering of the victims of violent crime and their families, we strongly believe that capital punishment undermines respect for the right to life. Taking a life can never set right a crime – regardless of the cruelty of that crime.

I especially want to express my respect to the people of Rwanda for their brave and wise decision earlier this year to abolish the death penalty. Few things could be more challenging to our notion of justice and punishment than coming to terms with the genocide in Rwanda. I would like to quote Paul Kagame, the President of Rwanda, who said that “Death as a tool of control and the role of this practice in perpetuating the culture of impunity (…) is contrary to our vision of stability, peace, prosperity and democratic governance.” This is a vision Norway fully shares. We join Rwanda in its call for a global abolition of the death penalty.

Norway has for many years been an active supporter of the international efforts to end the use of the death penalty. We will continue to be a staunch supporter of global abolition within the framework of the UN, the OSCE and the Council of Europe – as well as other multilateral and bilateral forums.

We will continue to urge all states that have not yet committed themselves to abolish capital punishment to do so and to ratify the second optional protocol to the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, without delay.