May 15, 2024: International Day of Conscientious Objection and publication of the EBCO Annual report
IFOR celebrates the International Day of Conscientious Objection (May 15, 2024)
Conscientious objection is a human right. Conscientious objectors to military service need asylum
War is a crime against humanity.
Wars are currently being waged in various countries, at the expense of the respective populations, with thousands of deaths and widespread destruction. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is now in its third year. Israel has been waging a war in Gaza since the Hamas attack. Turkey is repeatedly deploying military forces in neighbouring states in the Kurdish regions. The situation between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains tense. In Sudan, Yemen and Myanmar, there are wars that are in no way inferior to the aforementioned wars in terms of the number of victims and cruelty, but which receive less public attention.
In all these countries, there are people who refuse to go to war. They do not want to kill other people and do not want to die in this war. Soldiers on the front line want to lay down their weapons in the face of horror. They all face repression and prison sentences for doing so. But: conscientious objection is an internationally recognised human right!
We see conscientious objection as an important building block in overcoming war, death and destruction. We demand full respect for the human right to conscientious objection, especially in times of war. We demand protection and asylum for persecuted conscientious objectors and opponents of war.
– We demand from governments worldwide: Stop the persecution of conscientious objectors and deserters immediately! Release imprisoned opponents of war. Recognise the inalienable human right to conscientious objection!
– We demand from the European Union member states: Open the borders! Give opponents of war the opportunity to enter the European Union! Protect conscientious objectors and deserters and give them asylum!
To this end, various rallies and demonstrations are organized by different organizations in front of government institutions of warring states, vigils in front of monuments to deserters and other creative actions at various locations during the week of 15 May, the “International Day of Conscientious Objection” – from 13 to 19 May 2024. We emphasise: Conscientious objection is a human right!
To see the various actions: Weeks of action to the International Day of Conscientious Objection, May 15, 2024
Publication of the EBCO Annual report
The European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) published today, May 15th, its Annual Report “Conscientious Objection to Military Service in Europe 2023/24”
To read the report: EBCO Annual report