Norway's Ambassador to Give Evidence

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^ V \ MEDIA RELEASE t- .*l ^ Issued: 15 March 2016 PARLIAMENT OF AUSTRALIA Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Chair: The Hon Philip Ruddock MP Deputy: Senator Anne McEwen Human Rights Sub-Committee Norway's Ambassador to give evidence The Human Rights Sub-Committee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs/ Defence and Trade will conduct a public hearing in Canberra today as part of its inquiry into Australia's advocacy for the abolition of the death penalty. The Sub-Committee will hear evidence from the Norwegian Ambassador, Her Excellency Ms Unni Kl0vstad. Norway's Government has taken a prominent international role as a strong advocate for abolition of the death penalty. The 6 Worldth Congress Against the Death Penalty will be held in Oslo in June 2016. The Sub-Committee's inquiry is reviewing how Australia currently engages internationally to promote abolition of the death penalty and further steps Australia could take to advocate for worldwide abolition. Australia has been an active participant in the protection and promotion of human rights, including through its support of the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights/ aimed at the abolition of the death penalty. While there has been a global trend toward abolition, more than half the world's countries are yet to sign up to the protocol and in some countries the use of capital punishment appears to be increasing. Details of the hearing Time: l:10pm Date: Tuesday 15 March 2016 Location: Committee Room 1R4, Parliament House/ Canberra The hearing will be audio webcast live on: www.aoh.gov.au/live. Information on the progress of the inquiry to date, including submissions and transcripts, are available on the website: www.aph.gov.au/deathpenalty. For media comment: Contact the Sub-Committee Chair/ the Hon Philip Ruddock MP via Mr Ross Macdonald on 0417 852 209. For all other inquiries/ contact the Secretary on (02) 6277 4629. Telephone: 0262772313 P.O. Box 6021 Facsimile: 0262772221 PARLIAMENT HOUSE Email: iscfadt@a^ih,gov,au CANBERRA ACT 2600 Website: www.aph.gov.au/ifadt.

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