Greece and Turkey: Connection e.V. reports to the UN Human Rights Committee on conscientious objection
(25.09.2024) Connection e.V. has just submitted two reports to conscientious objection to military service about Greece and Turkey which will be reviewed this coming October by the group of experts of the Committee during the 142nd session.
In Greece the implementation of the human right to conscientious objection to military service is not in line with international standards and its full recognition is still lacking; the percentage of recognition of applicants citing ideological grounds has sharply dropped from 93% in 2018 (or 100% in 2019) to 0% in 2021. Alternative civil service is punitive and conscientious objectors’ human rights are constantly violated. Additionally, the Greek government has not yet acted on the views of the Committee in the Petromelidis v. Greece case. In 2021, the Committee found violations of Lazaros Petromelidis’ rights under articles 9(1), 12(2), 14(7) and 18(1) of the ICCPR.
More information are available in the full report submitted to the Un by Connection e.V and which is available here.
In Turkey the human right to conscientious objection to military service is not recognized. Conscientious objectors cannot apply for alternative service, are persecuted and are victims of several human rights violations; their situation has been described by the European Court for Human Rights as "civil death". Conscientious objectors are criminalized and appealing to the Constitutional Court is not resulting as an effective remedy. The report presents as well the situation of this human right in the Turkish occupied territory of Northern Cyprus where conscientious objectors, including reservists are prosecuted.
The detailed presentation of the situation this right in Turkey and Northern Cyprus is available in the report submitted to the UN by Connection e.V. and available here. Additionally, here you can find the report submitted by Connection’s Turkish partner Conscientious Objection Watch.
Connection e.V. is regularly engaging in the UN countries review procedures at the Human Rights Committee. Civil society engagement within the UN system is vital to report on the actual situation on the ground and to support local organizations.
This work of reporting on the right to conscientious objection to military service is done in collaboration with local partners, groups and human rights defenders and is funded by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT).
Connection e.V.: Greece and Turkey - Connection e.V. reports to the UN Human Rights Committee on the right to conscientious objection to military service, September 25, 2024
Keywords: ⇒ Conscientious Objection ⇒ Greece ⇒ Human Rights ⇒ Turkey