VietNamNet Bridge – Facing the spread of terrorism, leaders of many countries around the world continue to confirm that the death penalty cannot help reduce crime.

Attending the 6th world congress against the death penalty held in Oslo, Norway on June 21-23, two representatives of France, the new victim of terrorist attacks, reiterated that France still fights for the abolition of the death penalty worldwide.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault confirmed France’s financial support for activities to call for abolition of the death penalty. Recalling the achievements of the movement – with 102 countries abolished the death penalty in the last 20 years – he also noted that in 2015, 1,634 people were executed in 25 countries, of which he referred to Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Answering the central question posed at the conference: Does the war against terrorism makes countries reconsider the abolition of the death penalty?, former French Justice Minister Robert Badinter said: "The fear of being executed does not worry terrorists. If a terrorist is executed today then the suicide bombers will immediately appear the next day."

Sharing this view, Norwegian Foreign Minister Berge Brende said: There is no evidence to suggest that the death penalty reduces crime or acts of terrorism. On the contrary, terrorism and violent crimes often come after the calls of resuming the death penalty. Countries should not execute criminals for punishment or revenge. Furthermore, no legal systems are perfect and we cannot guarantee that the death penalty can never be applied to an innocent person.

"Norway has opposed the death penalty and abolished it since 1979. Later this year, the resolution to stop the death penalty will be voted by the UN General Assembly. Norway will join other countries tp strongly support this resolution," he said.

In a declaration adopted after the 3-day conference, more than 1,000 delegates from 80 countries, including Nobel Peace Prize winners, called for voting for this resolution. The declaration also called on the countries that have abolished the death penalty to ensure the respect of fundamental rights in the fight against terrorism, including not restoring the death penalty.

Van Anh (from Oslo)