Right to Refuse to Kill

1st December is Prisoners for Peace Day. For over 60 years, War Resisters' International have, on this day, made known the names and stories of those imprisoned for actions for peace. Many are conscientious objectors, in gaol for refusing to join the military. Others have taken nonviolent actions to disrupt preparation for war.

The Spanish language edition of a resource that will help conscientious objectors use international human rights mechanisms was launched this week in Colombia, as part of a forum on the right to conscientious objection to obligatory military service. The public forum, instigated by Acción colectiva de objetores y objetoras de conciencia (ACOOC), explored the political and legal tools that can promote conscientious objection.

Rafael Uzcátegui

In the National Assembly, a project to reform the Conscription and Military Enlistment Law is currently being discussed. The law has been included in the legislative package considered high priority by the heads of parliament, having been approved in the first debate of 18/06/2013. The project presented, however, is unconstitutional, because it violates what is stated in article 134 of the Magna Carta - that: “Every person, in accordance with the law, has the right to carry out civilian or military service necessary for the defence, preservation and development of the country, or in the face of public disaster. Nobody can be subjected to forced conscription (…)”.

A 'citizen's initiative' campaign in Finland is calling for the end of conscription. The “Ohi on” (“It’s Over”) signature drive is backed by WRI affiliate the Committee of 100 and the Union of Conscientious Objectors (AKL). Any civic initiative that gathers a minimum of 50,000 signatures must be considered by Parliament.

The United Nations Human Rights Council have passed a resolution on conscientious objection to military service. This is the first substantive resolution on the subject from the Council, and goes beyond previous resolutions from the Commission on Human Rights (which the Council replaced). It was adopted by consensus.

First, received 12th September, 2013

As part of WRI's eCouncil, Hannah, the Right to Refuse to Kill programme worker at WRI, talks about the work of the programme this year so far, and looks at what's coming up.

Watch the video, then come and join the conversation here: http://www.wri-irg.org/node/22348/

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Swiss citizens will have the chance to vote on whether conscription will be maintained on September 22nd. The Swiss government has already come out against the proposals.

In Switzerland, all men between the ages of 19 and 25 are liable for basic military training. The length of basic military training is 21 weeks, and 18 weeks in some exceptional circumstances.

Edited by Owen Everett

Around the world children, adolescents, and young adults encounter the military and military values in a variety of ways, from visits to schools by military personnel, to video games and the presence of the military and its symbols in public places. Young people are encouraged to see the military as necessary and valuable; something to be supportive of, not to question.

Through articles, images, survey data and interviews, Sowing Seeds: The Militarisation of Youth and How to Counter It documents the seeds of war that are planted in the minds of young people in many different countries. However, it also explores the seeds of resistance to this militarisation that are being sown resiliently and creatively by numerous people. We hope the book will help to disseminate these latter seeds. It is not just a book for peace and antimilitarist activists: it is a book for parents and grandparents, teachers, youth workers, and young people themselves. 

Download the pull book as a pdf here.

On 14th June this year the Norwegian parliament decided to introduce conscription for women. The question was on the agenda of all the political parties’ yearly meetings this spring, spearheaded by women from a young generation. The most surprising thing, bearing in mind the Norwegian context, is that the socialist party’s young women were at the very front in calling for this change.

The first International day of action For Military-Free Education and Research was organized by War Resisters International on June 14th 2013. Activists in India, Germany, South Africa, the State of Spain, Chile, Congo, the USA and Israel, called for a separation of the military from education.

Athens, 01/07/2013

Dear friends and supporters,