CO-Update

Cambodia’s Prime Minister, Hun Manet, recently announced the enforcement of a long-dormant conscription law starting in 2026, requiring citizens aged 18 to 30 to serve in the military. WRI finds this development deeply concerning. Mandatory conscription represents a direct step toward militarising societies. We are particularly alarmed that Cambodia has no legal framework to recognise those who refuse military service on grounds of conscience.

A recent report, "I’ll Never Feel Secure: Undocumented and Exploited Myanmar Nationals in Thailand", by Human Rights Watch, highlights the struggles of Myanmar nationals in Thailand, many of whom fled forced military conscription under the 2024 National Service Law and continue to face severe human rights violations.

New Profile, an Israeli antimilitarist and feminist organisation, and a member of the War Resisters’ International network, has just published its Annual Report. The report outlines the group’s work over the past year, including their efforts to end the genocide in Gaza, support conscientious objectors, and promote a demilitarised society in Israel.

The Myanmar military’s recruitment and use of child soldiers has surged since the 2021 coup, including a significant number recruited after the junta enacted a conscription law in February 2024. On June 19, 2025, the United Nations Secretary-General reported that the UN had verified 2,138 grave violations against children in armed conflict in Myanmar in 2024, including recruitment of children, with about 1,200 additional violations pending verification.

As part of its electoral campaign promises, Gustavo Petro’s government (2022-2026) pledged to follow the recommendations of the Truth Commission on abolishing conscription. In this context, discussions on possible alternatives to military service were relaunched in 2022 and led to the adoption in the same year of the Law of Total Peace which proposed the creation of the Social Service for Peace (SSP) as an alternative to compulsory military service. Until August 2024 the national government succeeded in laying out the regulations and formalising the SSP. And while the proposal for an alternative to military service expands options for participation in peacebuilding in Colombia, it also raises serious concerns.

Connection e.V., Conscience and Peace Tax International, European Bureau for Conscientious Objection and War Resisters’ International strongly endorse the appeal on behalf of A.A. against the rejection by the Deputy Minister of National Defence, following a negative recommendation by the Special Committee, of his application to perform alternative service as a conscientious objector.