International Conscientious Objection Day

15 May - International Conscientious Objectors' Day

International Conscientious Objectors' Day 2007 will focus on the situation of conscientious objection in Colombia.

The programme includes the following:

An integration activity on the 11th of may between all international and national delegates
An antimilitarist concert on the 12th of May
A meeting of the National Assembly of CO and the international delegates the 13th and 14th of May to evaluate and programm the strategies of the international solidarity network and to prepare the nonv

Since the 1980s, 15 May is celebrated as International
Conscientious Objectors' Day. Originally coordinated by the
International Conscientious Objectors' Meeting (ICOM), War Resisters'
International stepped in to coordinate and promote International
Conscientious Objectors' Day since ICOM ceased to meet ever since ICOM
1995 in Chad.

Dear friends and war resisters,

You receive a fraternal greeting from the National Assembly of
Conscientious Objectors - ANOOC, a network of organizations and groups
from different regions of Colombia who are promoting conscientious
objection against all - legal and illegal - armed groups, with a
nonviolent approach.

15 May - International Conscientious Objectors' Day

International Conscientious Objectors' Day 2007 will focus on the situation of conscientious objection in Colombia. Already in April 2007, several groups of Colombian objectors will tour Western Europe to help to build and strengthen a support network for Colombian objectors. The central activities for International Conscientious Objectors' Day will take place in Medellin, Colombia, around 15 May 2007.

Since the founding of War Resisters' International in 1921, the right to refuse to kill - conscientious objection - has been at the core of WRI's work. Although this right to today recognised as an international standard, it is in practice often not granted, and those who claim their right are thrown into prison, or worse (see for example the article on Eritrea in this Broken Rifle).

From 11-16 May, Operation Refuse War too place in New York City and Washington DC - marking International Conscientious Objectors' Day 2006 with a focus on the situation of and support to US war resisters: GIs applying for conscientious objector status, going AWOL, or finding other ways to get discharged from the military.

Operation Refuse War

Through workshops, actions, and an international conference, Operation Refuse War will highlight the difficulties that current conscientious objectors face as well as help build relationships and connections between the various communities within the anti-war movement.

Public Event in New York City: Thursday May 11th 2006, 7pm-9pm

Bringing together conscientious objectors from South Korea, Colombia, Israel, Bosnia and Hercegovina, and the United States, this panel and discussion will explore the potential of conscientious objection as a strategy for building a global anti-war movement. Free and open to the public.

Friends Meeting House, 15 Rutherford Place, Manhattan

Directions: Corner of 15th Street and Rutherford Place, facing Stuyvesant Park.

In Celebration of International Conscientious Objectors' Day

May 11-16 2006

New York City and Washington DC

Conference

Operation Refuse War: An International Conference of Resisters to Global War

Conference Timetable All events are located at Church of the Brethren, 37 North Carolina Ave.

Through workshops, actions, and an international conference, Operation Refuse War will highlight the difficulties that current conscientious objectors face as well as help build relationships and connections between the various communities within the anti-war movement. The focus of the events is on supporting contemporary American conscientious objectors and their families, as well as examining the current potential of conscientious objection (in its various forms) as a strategy for building an anti-war movement.

Kevin Ramirez and Steve Morse

2005 has been a pivotal year for counter-recruiters as the Army, Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Navy Reserve and Air National Guard all missed their recruiting goals by thousands, effectively bringing about the worst year in recruiting since 1979!

War Resisters' International released a report to the United Nations' Human Rights Committee in March 2006, highlighting "issues of conscience and human rights" in relation to the US Armed Forces. The report forms part of WRI's activities in preparation for 15 May 2006 - International Conscientious Objectors' Day - which focuses on US Cos and resisters. WRI's main concerns are: