Conscientious objection

30/04/1998 1 Conscription

conscription not enforced

Conscription has, in general, not been enforced since 1992. In February that year a peace treaty was signed between the government and the FMLN (Farabundo Marti Liberacion Nacional), which ended a civil war which had lasted since 1980.

There is a legal basis for re-introducing conscription.

Conscription is enshrined in art. 215 of the 1983 Constitution, according to which military service is compulsory for all Salvadorans (men and women) between the ages of 18 and 30.

30/04/1998 1 Conscription

Conscription is enshrined in sect. II art. 9(b) of the Constitution, which states: "Every able-bodied Dominican citizen shall perform such civilian and military service as may be required by the country to ensure its defence and preservation." [1]

It is not clear if conscription is actually enforced.

The government stated in 1989 that it does not consider military service to be among the duties of its citizens. [2]

Several other sources also state that there is no conscription.

30/04/1998 1 Conscription

conscription does not exist

Dominica does not have regular armed forces.

Conscription has never existed since gaining independence in 1978. Conscription is not enshrined in the constitution and there is no legislation providing for conscription. [1]

2 Conscientious objection

The right to conscientious objection is not legally recognized, nor is it enshrined in the constitution.

30/04/1998 1 Conscription

conscription does not exist

Costa Rica abolished its armed forces constitutionally in 1949. According to art. 12 of the 1949 Constitution: "The Army as a permanent institution is proscribed. For vigilance and the preservation of the public order, there will be the necessary police forces." [5]

The constitution provides for the introduction of both armed forces and military service, when deemed necessary.

30/04/1998 1 Conscription

conscription does not exist

Conscription has never existed since gaining independence in 1981.

Legislation allows for the introduction of conscription when voluntary enlistment fails to achieve the requisite number of recruits. This has never been the case as there are, in fact, more applications to join the armed forces than actually needed. [2]

recruitment

Minimum enlistment age is 18.

30/04/1998 1 Conscription

conscription does not exist

Conscription has never existed since gaining independence in 1966.

Barbados is one of only two Eastern Caribbean states to maintain standing armed forces.

recruitment

No information available.

2 Conscientious objection

The government stated in 1987 that, as conscription does not exist, the question of "conscientious Objection to military service" therefore does not arise.

30/04/1998 1 Conscription

conscription does not exist

Conscription has never existed since gaining independence in 1973.

recruitment

No information available.

2 Conscientious objection

The right to conscientious objection is not legally recognized.

The government stated in 1989: "There is no provision in the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas which is specific to conscientious objection to military service".

30/04/1998 1 Conscription

conscription does not exist

Conscription has never existed since gaining independence in 1981.

Antigua and Barbuda is one of only two Eastern Caribbean states to maintain standing armed forces.

recruitment

No information available.

2 Conscientious objection

There is no legal provision for conscientious objection.

The government of Antigua and Barbuda stated in 1994 that the issue of conscientious objection does not apply, as military service is voluntary in Antigua and Barbuda.

28/04/1998 1 Conscription

conscription exists

The legal basis of conscription is the 1994 Law on Military Service and the 1997 Law On amendments and additions to the law of the Republic of Tajikistan on general military responsibilities and military service. [9]

Ever since the 1980s Tajikistan has suffered from a civil war, which heightened after gaining independence in 1991. The government and the Islamic opposition forces signed a latest peace treaty in June 1997, but the situation is still unstable.

28/04/1998 1 Conscription

conscription exists

Conscription is enshrined in art. 51 of the 1994 Constitution, which states: "The defence of the Republic of Uzbekistan is the duty of every citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan. All citizens are obliged to perform military service or alternative service in the way as detailed in law."

Its legal basis is the 1992 Law on Defence. [4]

military service

All men between the ages of 18 and 27 are liable for military service.

28/04/1998 1 Conscription

conscription exists

Conscription is enshrined in art. 31 of the 1995 Constitution, which states: "Defence of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the duty of every citizen of the republic. The citizens of the republic perform military service as laid down by law."

The present legal basis of conscription is the 1992 Military Service Act.

military service

All men above the age of 18 are liable for military service.

The length of military service is two years. [5]

Reserve obligations apply.

25/04/1998 1 Conscription

conscription exists

Conscription exists since 1946.

Conscription is enshrined in art. 40 of the Constitution, which states: "(I) All citizens have an obligation to carry out their sacred duty to defend the security of the homeland and to respect its Constitution and the socialist union system. (II) Military service is compulsory and is regulated by law."

The present legal basis of conscription is the 1953 National Service Act.