Spanish version of guide to the international human rights system launched in Bogota

The Spanish language edition of a resource that will help conscientious objectors use international human rights mechanisms was launched this week in Colombia, as part of a forum on the right to conscientious objection to obligatory military service. The public forum, instigated by Acción colectiva de objetores y objetoras de conciencia (ACOOC), explored the political and legal tools that can promote conscientious objection. This meeting was part of a two-day workshop in which lawyers and activists are learning and teaching national and international legal frameworks that can protect Colombian COs, including against forced recruitment in "batidas".

The Guia is available online here, alongside the English edition here. It is also downloaded as a pdf here, however it is designed to be used as an online tool, which allows conscientious objectors – as well as their support groups and/or legal representatives – to quickly discover the regional and international human rights mechanisms that might be of use to them, and how they can be accessed.

For the War Resisters' International network – including in Colombia - conscientious objection is far more than a human right. It is a statement against militarism and a strategy to overcome it. However, we recognise that taking advantage of, and working to extend, international standards around conscientious objectors, can help to protect individual COs at risk from the worst excesses of reprisal and repression.

Hannah Brock, WRI's Right to Refuse to Kill programme worker, is in Colombia for the workshops, to network with other peace and antimilitarist organisations in Bogota, Medellin and Bucaramanga, and also to plan WRI's work with Colombia groups against batidas (press gangs) - which are ongoing despite being declared illegal by Colombia's Constitutional Court.