WRI Statement

The War Resisters’ International statement issued for the UN World Conference on Human Rights dealt with the Issues of refusing military conscription, the need to extend the right to asylum, and the issue of violence against women. Excerpts from the statement concerning this last issue are quoted here.

A statement from War Resisters' International

Peace can only be based on the recognition of human rights, be they individual and personal rights, economic and cultural rights, and group and gender rights. War Resisters' International not only opposes all abuse of human rights as violence, but particularly aims to support those asserting their human rights to organise themselves and to take nonviolent action against oppression and those acting in conscience who refuse to be agents of oppression or to take part in violence.

Open letter from War Resisters' International and the International Fellowship of Reconciliation to all those friends in the anti-war movement of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia, who see no alternative to military intervention in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Since the war spread to Bosnia-Herzegovina, there have been widespread calls for military intervention, even in letters from the anti-war movement in Sarajevo.

The question of what is called "humanitarian" military intervention -- whether through the United Nations in the name of "peace enforcement" or through other bodies in the name of stopping slaughter -- is now a central and divisive issue for peace movements. Later this year, following discussion at our Council meeting in July, War Resisters' International hopes to issue a fuller document discussing this question. At this stage, however, we want to set the scene by posing certain questions for peace campaigners.

The only telephone number I know by heart outside Yugoslavia is the War Resisters’ International office in London. This is for a very simple reason: there is always somebody there to receive and spread information, to listen and to understand, to help by giving information we need, and to talk as friends.

Our analysis, reports, warnings about the situation, and questions are always first sent to WRI. Again for a simple reason: the efficiency and the high level of ability to understand.

Iraq must withdraw from Kuwait. The aim of the invasion was not to free Kuwait from a corrupt feudal regime, still less to free the Palestinians. It was simply to serve Saddam Hussein's strategic interests. Any claims which Iraq has -- for instance, access to the sea -- should have been pursued by non-military means.

War is a crime against humanity. I am therefore determined not to support any kind of war and to strive for the removal of all causes of war.

This is the founding Declaration of War Resisters' International. Since 1921 we have consistently promoted resistance to wars between imperial powers and to wars waged by colonial powers against subject peoples.

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