Question of Mr. Erik Solheim, MP

"International initiatives to establish a world-wide moratorium to abolish the death penalty have been taken. Will Norway promote the inscription of a resolution at the General Assembly this year ?"

Answer of Mr. Knut Vollebuk, foreign affairs minister

The Norwegian efforts for abolishing the death penalty has been going on for years. During this spring's session in United Nations Human Rights Commisssion Norway supported the resolution proposal from Italy. This resoultion encouraged all the UN memberstates to ratify the international instruments that abolish of limit the use of death penalty. This concerns especially "second amendment protocol" of 1996 on civil and political rights, which Norway is part of.

It is at the time being unclear whether the will be promoted such a resolution during this autumn's GA at the UN. If such a suggestion for a resolution is promoted Norway will support it.

(unofficial translation)