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.

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

#ObjectWarCampaign - Update

(14.02.2023) Today we would like to inform you about the current status of the #ObjectWarCampaign - and also make some suggestions for further work. The collection of signatures, with which we call on the European institutions to give protection and asylum to conscientious objectors and deserters from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, has been signed by more than 9,000 people so far.

No Means No – to the War in Ukraine

No Belarusian Troops for the War – Call for Action Day February 20

(01.02.2023) On the 20th of February 2023, we - Nash Dom, Ukrainian Pacifist Movement, Connection e.V., Federation for Social Defence, European Bureau for Conscientious Objection, International Fellowship of Reconciliation, Agir pour la paix and War Resisters’ International – call for demonstrations outside Belarusian embassies across Europe. These protests will draw attention to the danger of Belarus joining Russia by sending military personnel to attack Ukraine.