United Nations

In January, organisations from across different regions working on conscientious objection to military service submitted reports to the OHCHR. The reports document key developments over the past four years, including changes in legislation, new restrictions, cases of prosecution, and ongoing challenges faced by conscientious objectors worldwide.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has opened a call for inputs to inform its upcoming report on conscientious objection to military service, which will be presented to the Human Rights Council at its 62nd session in June 2026. The deadline for submissions is 15 January 2026.

Two recent reports within the UN system have reaffirmed that the right to conscientious objection to military service is an essential part of the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.

War Resisters’ International, in collaboration with Connection e.V., is organising a side event during the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council. The event will focus on the right to conscientious objection in times of war with contributions of conscientious objectors from Russia, Ukraine and Israel, alongside experts from international organisations.

The International Centre for Civil Initiatives “Our House”, Conscience and Peace Tax International (CPTI), the Center on Conscience & War, the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO), the International Fellowship of Reconciliation, the Fellowship of Reconciliation USA (FORUSA), the International Fellowship of Reconciliation Austria, MIR France, the International Peace Bureau, World BEYOND War, and War Resisters’ International, jointly submit a report for the UN Universal Periodic Review of Belarus.

War Resisters International (WRI) is deeply concerned about the ongoing war of aggression of the Russian Federation in Ukraine and the forced mobilization in the occupied territories. Together with its international partner Connection e.V. and local partner Ukrainian Pacifist Movement, War Resisters International expresses serious concern about the violation of the human right to conscientious objection to military service in Ukraine.

Today at the UN in Geneva on the occasion of the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council, it took place the interactive dialogue in the plenary on the situation of human rights in Ukraine. On this occasion, Connection e.V. together with War Resisters’ International prepared and delivered in the plenary a statement addressing the situation of conscientious objectors and the prosecution of human rights defender Yurii Sheliazhenko.

Today at the UN in Geneva on the occasion of the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council, it took place the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation. On this occasion, Connection e.V. together with War Resisters’ International prepared and delivered in the plenary a statement addressing the situation of conscientious objectors, forced recruitment and the employment of conscripts in the war. Connection e.V.

Today at the UN in Geneva on the occasion of the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council, it took place the interactive dialogue with the Group of Independent Experts on Belarus. On this occasion, Connection e.V. together with War Resisters’ International prepared and delivered in the plenary a statement addressing the repressions of grass-roots civil society organisations and the stigmatisation and humiliation of conscientious objectors to military service. Connection e.V.

Join us in this webinar with Daniel Møgster of the OHCHR who will introduce the recent report of the OHCHR on conscientious objection to military service.

On March 10th, on the occasion of the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council, IFOR participated in the Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the freedom of religion or belief, Mr. Ahmed Shaheed, and addressed the issue of the right to conscientious objection to military service in the plenary.

The statement has been co-sponsored by War Resisters' International and referred as well to the concerning situation of armed conflicts.

On March 10th, IFOR -with a statement co-sponsored by War Resisters' International, participated in a session at the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council. The statement presented at the Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the freedom of religion or belief, Mr. Ahmed Shaheed, addressed the issue of the right to conscientious objection to military service in the plenary.

Read the full statement below.