Poland: Human Rights Committee demands shorter substitute service

Poland was one of the countries examined during the 82nd session of the United Nations' Human Rights Committee in Geneva this autumn. The Committee took up the issue of the length of substitute service. The concluding observations of the session on 5 November (unedited version) read:

"15. The Commitee notes that the duration of alternative military service is 18 months, whereas for military service it is only 12 months (art. 18 and 26).

The State party should ensure that the length of alternative service to military service does not have a punitive character."