Opening Speech at the World Congress against the Death Penalty

Check against delivery

• Honoured guests, ladies and gentlemen,
• Welcome to Norway and to this sixth World Congress Against the Death Penalty.
• I am pleased to see such an impressive gathering of representatives from civil society, academia, governments, parliaments and human rights institutions.
• Even some Nobel laureates are present.
• Among us we also have people who have been personally affected by capital punishment:
  • people who have been sentenced to death
  • their family members
  • and people who provided legal representation.
• Thank you for coming to Oslo to share your experiences – to tell your stories.

The death penalty

• At all times, we must remember that – contrary to what many people think – the death penalty is not exclusive to any particular region, political system, religion, culture or tradition.
• The death penalty has been – and still is – being practised in all corners of the world.
• On my way to the Opera House earlier today, I passed by Oslo Pride.
• This reminded me that the death penalty is not only used for the most serious of crimes.
• Even in 2016, people can be sentenced to death just because of whom they love.
• The death penalty is used disproportionately against members of minority communities.
• This is a serious obstacle in their efforts to seek recognition of their human rights.
• When anyone is sentenced to death, that person's inherent human dignity is undermined.
• As we have learned time and again, no justice system is perfect. There are numerous cases of innocent people serving time. Death row is no exception.
• The death penalty is absolute.
• The death penalty is irreversible.
• The death penalty is irreparable.
• There will always be a risk that an innocent person can be sentenced to death.
• That is a risk we cannot accept.
• As UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has stated, "We have a duty to prevent innocent people from paying the ultimate price for miscarriages of justice. The most sensible way is to end the death penalty."

Norway and the death penalty

• The Norwegian position on the death penalty stands firm: Norway opposes the death penalty under all circumstances.
• This is a matter of principle.
• The Norwegian constitution sets out that, "Every human being has a right to live. Nobody can be sentenced to death."
• The abolition of the death penalty in Norway – in times of peace and war – is reflected in our commitment to global abolition.
• However, this has not always been the case. The death penalty was once an integral part of our penal system.
• After World War II, 37 people were sentence to death and executed for treason and war crimes.
• The last execution in Norway was carried out three years after the war ended.
• Despite the long occupation and the brutal war, many people wanted to show mercy and compassion instead of vengeance.
• Some 700 priests called for clemency.
• The death sentence was carried out, but the cries for compassion were not ignored.
• The execution in 1948 was Norway's last.

Global trends and development

• Much work remains to be done. Nonetheless there are reasons for optimism in our struggle towards global abolition.
• Never before have so few countries practised the death penalty.
• In 1945, only eight states had abolished the death penalty.
• Then, as now, there were strong voices in favour of the death penalty. Many people believed that terrible crimes called for the ultimate punishment.
• The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, who is here today, recently said that, "We must not allow even the most atrocious acts to strip us of our fundamental humanity".
• As we move forward, we should not judge, but seek to understand.
• This way, states with and without the death penalty can work together towards global abolition.
• Previously, when policy-makers discussed the death penalty and its effect on crime, decisions were based on assumptions and beliefs, not knowledge and facts.
• Thanks to ground-breaking research, we now know that the death penalty does not deter crime any more than long prison sentences.
• Twenty-five years ago, only a quarter of UN Member States had abolished the death penalty.
• Today, more than four out of five countries — some 160 Member States — have either abolished the death penalty or no longer use it.
• Universal abolition is certainly within reach.
• We have already come a long way.
• This reflects greater international recognition of the sanctity of human rights.

Conclusion

• Many of you here this evening know better than most how abolition can be achieved.
• You have fought tirelessly against the death penalty for many years.
• I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for all that you have done.
• The most effective way to reduce the number of states, that still apply the death penalty is to bring people together and facilitate an open dialogue:
  • based on respect
  • supported by facts
  • free of judgement and prejudice
• In an arena where we can meet each other with open minds.
• The World Congress is just such an arena.
• Let us embrace this opportunity. We need to make the most of the next three days.
• The goal should be to take concrete steps towards the abolition of the death penalty.
• Finally, allow me to express my gratitude to the conference organisers, Ensemble contre la peine de mort and the World Coalition against the Death Penalty.
• I would also like to thank our fellow members of the Core Group of countries working against the death penalty.
• Your tireless efforts are an inspiration for us all.

****

• • See also Børge Brende about the goals for the congress
  • ECPM director Raphaël Chenuil-Hazan on why death penalty should be forbidden