Inter­na­tio­nal Support of Conscien­tious Objec­tors and Deserters

Connection e.V. - About Us

Many countries practice forceful recruitment for war. Objectors are discriminated against and persecuted. Connection e.V., an association founded in 1993, advocates a comprehensive right to conscientious objection at an international level. The organisation collaborates with groups opposing war, conscription and the military. Beyond Europe, our network extends to Turkey, the U.S., Israel, Latin America and Africa.

The danger of prosecution has forced many conscientious objectors to leave their countries. However, prosecution as a conscientious objector is usually not recognized as a reason for asylum. Connection e.V. demands that conscientious objectors from war regions should get asylum. We offer counseling and information to refugees and support for their self-organization.

Nearly 50,000 signatures handed over in Berlin on the International Day of Conscientious Objection

Conscientious objection is a human right. This includes the right to asylum!

(15.05.2023) On this year’s International Day of Conscientious Objection, 30 organizations from Europe called for protection for all those who refuse military service in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. During a festive event, almost 50,000 signatures of the #ObjectWarCampaign collected on the platform WeMove.eu were handed over to the European Commission in Berlin. The presentation of the petition was accompanied by speeches of national and international guests from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, additional actions and music.

Call for actions from 8 to 21 May 2023

Protection and asylum for all those from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine who refuse military service

Action weeks around the International Day of Conscientious Objection

We call to organise around the "International Day of Conscientious Objection", 15 May, rallies and demonstrations in front of Russian, Belarusian and Ukrainian government institutions as well as EU representations, vigils in front of deserter monuments and many other creative actions in different places. Conscientious objection is a human right!

Gallery: Protest Against a Possible Entry into the War in Ukraine by Belarus

Support Conscientious Objectors and Deserters

(21.02.2023) Under the title “No Means No – to the War in Ukraine” organizations from Belarus, Ukraine, Germany, Greece, United Kingdom, the Netherlands demonstrated in front of Belarusian Embassies on the 20^th of February. The date was chosen because on the 20^th of February 2022, Russian troops were ordered to stay in Belarus after the end of a joint exercise with the Belarusian army. Four days later, the attack against Ukraine began, including Russian troops based in the territory of Belarus. Up until now no Belarusian troops have joined the war, though Belarus provides logistical aid to Russia.

The protesters demanded the protection of all war resisters, also those from Russia and Ukraine. “We support the appeal ’No means no’ by Nash Dom, the Belarusian human rights organization, to refuse to be recruited to the army or to leave it if they are already serving”, Schweitzer said in Berlin. European goverments, this was another demand of the demonstration, should create humanitarian corridor for conscientious objectors.

The call as pdf-file: https://www.Connection-eV.org/pdfs/NoMeansNoBelarus2023-en.pdf

Chronology of events in Belarus Januar 2023: https://news.house/56492

Chronology of events in Belarus September-December 2022: https://news.house/56611

 The private military company Wagner in Belarus: https://en.Connection-eV.org/article-3717