EBCO Annual Report on Conscientious Objection in Europe launched in Athens

The European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) launched its Annual Report 2016 on Conscientious Objection in Europe on last month n Athens, Greece. The report edited by Derek Brett and researched by Martina Lucia Lanza, was presented with the participation of activists and representatives from countries including Cyprus, Greece, Finland and Turkey.

Organising the event in Athens, EBCO has also highlighted Greece’s urgent need for legislative reform on conscientious objection, in order to comply with international human rights law and standards. In less than a year three different international human rights instruments (the UN Human Rights Council, the UN Human Rights Committee, and the European Court of Human Rights) have pointed out serious violations of human rights of conscientious objectors in Greece.

Covering major developments affecting conscientious objectors in Europe throughout this year, the report concludes with a number of recommendations to the State authorities. EBCO presents the report to the European Parliament, Parliamentary Assembly, and the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, as well as the individual State authoruties.

You can download the report here.