"Thank you, Mr Chair,
This statement is delivered on behalf of Iceland, Liechtenstein, San Marino, Switzerland and Norway.
We strongly condemn the executions of Mr Jack Jones and Mr Marcel Williams on the 24th of April, and of Mr Ledell Lee on the 20th of April in the United States. This brings the number of executions to nine this year.
Death penalty violates the right to life and undermines human dignity. Our countries oppose the death penalty in all cases and without exception, and we are consistently calling for its abolition. Capital punishment is not a deterrent against crime and makes miscarriages of justice irreversible.
Mr Chair,
In the international community there is an increasing support for the view that the death penalty constitutes a violation of the prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment. There is a global trend towards the abolishment of the death penalty.
We strongly urge all OSCE participating states to close the chapter on the death penalty in our region.
Thank you, Mr Chair."