USA - Conscientious objection to military service, juvenile recruitment and related issues

Connection e.V. reports to the UN Human Rights Council to UPR (50th session)

by Connection e.V.

(April 2025) The submission focused on the right to conscientious objection to military service, juvenile recruitment and related issues. These issues are highly important in the case of the United States of America, taking into consideration the size of its armed forces and the frequent involvement in military interventions and armed conflicts abroad. Although the State under review does not currently enforce compulsory military service, the issue of the right to conscientious objection to military service is still valid as far as it concerns professional members of the armed forces who have been enlisted voluntarily.

Currently there are inadequate regulations for conscientious objection for professional soldiers and occasionally result in serious violations of the human rights of conscientious objectors, including imprisonment. One issue is the actual definition of conscientious objection stated by the Department of Defence.

A concerning issue we reported is the juvenile recruitment taking place in the country, considering that it has not ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, despite numerous recommendations; however, it has ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the involvement of children in armed conflicts.

Download: www.Connection-eV.org/ohchr/50th_UPR-USA_EN_Connection.pdf

Zaira Zafarana: International News, February till June 2025. 15. Juni 2025. Excerpts.

Keywords:    ⇒ USA