Strasbourg, 21/06/2012 – Secretary General Jagland today met with Norwegian, Spanish and Swiss members of the Support Group to the International Commission against the Death Penalty (ICDP), who presented their proposals for involving the Council of Europe more actively in its work and in the preparation of the next World Congress on the Abolition of the Death Penalty, to be held in 2013 in Madrid.

The first World Congress was held in Strasbourg at the Council of Europe in 2001.

One of the objectives of the next Congress will be to focus on regional dynamics in North Africa, encouraging active participation of international organisations.

The Secretary General reiterated the Council of Europe's commitment to abolishing the death penalty throughout Europe and welcomed the ICDP's initiatives.

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