56th Session of the UN Human Rights Council: Oral statements in support of conscientious objectors to military service

The 56th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council took place in Geneva between 18th June and 12th July 2024. During the 56th Session, War Resisters’ International, in collaboration with Connection e.V., has made oral statements on the right to conscientious objection to military service on several occasions. The statements were delivered by Zaira Zafarana, international advocacy coordinator at Connection e.V. and a representative of War Resisters' International at the UN in Geneva.

Statements delivered

10th July 2024, on Ukraine: The statement was delivered at the UN on the occasion of the Interactive Dialogue with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, on the situation in Ukraine. The statement pointed out the lack of protection for conscientious objectors to military service in Ukraine.The case of human rights defender Yurii Sheliazhenko and his organisation, the Ukrainian Pacifist Movement, was also addressed. Read the full statement here.

3rd July 2024, on Belarus: The statement was delivered at the UN on the occasion of the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, Anais Marin. The statement highlighted the ongoing violations of the human right to conscientious objection to military service in Belarus. Read the full statement here. 

26th June 2024, on the human rights of migrants: The statement was delivered at the UN during the Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants. The statement highlighted international standards about the protection of conscientious objectors whose life are at risk in their country of origin and denounced the denial of asylum to conscientious objectors; it also called on the members of the Human Rights Council to protect conscientious objectors. Read the full statement here.

20th June 2024, on Eritrea: The statement was delivered at the UN on the occasion of the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the the situation of human rights in Eritrea, Mohamed Abdelsalam Babiker. It described the de facto indefinite national service in the country and urged the international community to protect Eritreans and to abstain from supporting such a system of slavery. Read the full statement here.