Conscientious objection

On the occasion of International Conscientious Objection Day, we are sharing the voices of conscientious objectors from around the world — individuals who have taken a stand against war and militarism by refusing to serve in the armed forces.

Several organisations worldwide stand in solidarity with those who refuse to kill and engage in wars and are for this reason persecuted, criminalised and jailed. The undersigned organizations -active also at the European level- address a specific appeal to the European institutions and Member States to protect and fully implement the right to conscientious objection to military service.

On March 3rd Connection e.V and WRI hosted the webinar "Three years after the start of the war in Ukraine" where activists from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine shared how's the current situation in their countries regarding conscription and the situation of Conscientious Objection to military service. The presentations are available to watch and share now.

On May 15, the International Conscientious Objection Day, we want to send out a powerful joint message for peace and the right to refuse to kill. Especially in times of global armed conflict, it is more important than ever to promote public debate on conscription, conscientious objection and alternatives to the military. we invite you to reinvigorate the #RefuseWar international action in solidarity with all those who object to war and refuse to take up arms break their weapons  all around the world.

The Latin American and Caribbean Antimilitarist Network (RAMALC) has shared this call for International Conscientious Objection Day. It's an invitation to stand against militarisation and war, refusing to be part of systems built on violence and exploitation. Don't count on us advocates for conscientious objection, antimilitarism, and solidarity all around the world.

Three years ago, Russia attacked Ukraine, resulting in devastating consequences. Yet, there are also hundreds of thousands of individuals in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine who have refused to participate in the war. What is the state of their right to conscientious objection? What about their protection? Join us in this discussion with peace activists and campaigners from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. 

On 16 February 2023, in the resolution ‘One year of Russia’s invasion and war of aggression against Ukraine’, the EU Parliament demanded that Member States provide protection for conscientious objectors and deserters fleeing Belarus, Russia, and occupied Ukraine. However, this is not guaranteed in most Member States.

On December 3, President Yoon Suk Yeol abruptly declared martial law. Park An-su, appointed as the martial law commander, announced decrees from the Martial Law Command. These decrees severely undermine constitutional rights such as freedom of the press, freedom of publication, and freedom of assembly and association. Both the President’s declaration of martial law and the martial law commander’s decrees are actions that gravely threaten democracy.

The Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) rejected Turkey’s appeal against the conviction as an outcome of Murat Kanatlı’s complaint, a conscientious objector who refused compulsory military service in Northern Cyprus. The ECHR’s ruling, issued on September 24, upheld the violation of rights verdict in Kanatlı’s case against Turkey. Ankara was ordered to pay the conscientious objector 9,000 euros in non-pecuniary damages and 2,363 euros for trial and other expenses.

The number of new criminal cases against conscientious objectors has surged since summer 2024 after the General Prosecutor's Office wrote to local prosecutors. About 300 conscientious objectors now face criminal investigations which could lead – if cases reach court and end in convictions – to a 3 to 5 year jail term.

The following list includes individuals who have been imprisoned for their nonviolent resistance to war and conscientious objection to military service.

On December 1st, Prisoners for Peace Day, we stand in solidarity with conscientious objectors and activists imprisoned for their work against war and its preparations. On this day, we share the stories and names of those detained for their work for peace, human rights, and commitment to nonviolence, and invite you to show solidarity by sending letters to them.