CO-Update

Dear readers of CO-Update.

welcome to the last issue of CO-Update for 2011 - the next issue is likely to come out in February 2012, due to the well-deserved holidays of the RRtK programme worker.

This issue of CO-Update is full of legal news: another judgement by the European Court of Human Rights (positive), a judgement by the Constitutional Court of Colombia (more or less positive), and a judgement by the Court of Appeal of Bermuda (well...).

On 22 November 2011, a Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights reaffirmed the right to conscientious objection in its judgement in the case of Erçep v. Turkey (application no. 43965/04). The case concerned a Jehovah's Witness from Turkey, who had been repeatedly imprisoned for his refusal to perform military service following approximately 15 call-ups.

In a new judgement the Constitutional Court of Colombia limits the widespread practice of 'batidas'. The judgement related to a complaint in relations to article 14 of the law on recruitment (Ley 48 de 1993), which deals with the obligation to register for military service, and article 41 para g), which defines the process in relation to the classification of a person as "remiso" (draft evader).

Anti-conscription campaigners are vowing to head to London’s Privy Council again after losing their latest battle in Bermuda’s Court of Appeal, the Royal Gazette reported on 9 November 2011. Bermudians Against the Draft (BAD) had been appealing against Puisne Justice Norma Wade-Miller’s April ruling that Government did not act unconstitutionally by conscripting Jamel Hardtman and brothers Larry Jr and Lamont Marshall. The three appellants had argued their constitutional right to be protected from inhuman treatment would be breached if they had to do military service.

International Conference Germany 2012

Darmstadt, 8-10 June 2012

War Resisters International are looking for individuals and organisations to collaborate on and contribute to its 2012 conference 'Countering the Militarisation of Youth'. One of the aims of the project is to create a snap shot of the ways in which youth are being increasingly militarised, to that end we would welcome hearing from you about developments in your area.

For more than 50 years, War Resisters' International has publicised the names and stories of prisoners of peace on 1 December - Prisoners for Peace Day.

Action On 1 December, put aside at least one hour and write at least four cards to prisoners; Get your peace group or class or meeting place to organise a card-writing session; Set up a stall in your town centre, perform a bit of street theatre, or do whatever else it takes to attract attention and interest. Sending cards and letters

In the previous month(s), the WRI office issued the following co-alerts:
(a full archive of co-alerts is available at wri-irg.org/news/alerts)

28 Nov 2011: TURKEY: Conscientious objector Muhammed Serdar Delice arrested 28 Nov 2011: EGYPT: Trial of Maikel Nabil Sanad again postponed to 4 December on his 97th day of hunger strike

War Resisters' International is looking for a Right to Refuse to Kill programme worker (full-time)

The RRTK worker will share the responsibility for organising work from WRI's international office and have specific responsibility for running WRI's international work on conscientious objection and military recruitment. A commitment to pacifism, good computer skills, and language skills are essential.

Salary: £24,136.26 per annum.
Deadline for applications: 31 May 2012
start date: 1 September 2012