CALL FOR DONATIONS TO SUCCESSFULLY CONTINUE OUR WORK IN THE YEAR AHEAD

REPORT AND OUTLOOK ON THE YEARS 2025/26

4th December 2025

Slowly but surely, the year is coming to an end. It is time to look back on the past year and preview our upcoming projects in 2026. We hope that you will continue to support us to defend the right to conscientious objection in Germany and worldwide.

Since «Connection e.V.»  is funded exclusively by individual donations we are able to work in an independent manner. We would like to continue this work in the coming year. You may donate here. Thank you very much for your support! 

For an unconditional human right to conscientious objection! Conscientious objectors and deserters need asylum!

TIME TO LOOK BACK ON THE YEAR 2025

The militarisation of society is advancing at a rapid pace. Re—armament, recruitment and compulsory military service, and a year of social service are being implemented. This is putting pressure on human rights, not only in Russia and Ukraine. Requests for advice on conscientious objection, desertion and asylum have increased enormously.

The spring fundraising campaign enabled us to hire Artem Klyga, a Russian lawyer. He supports us in responding to requests for advice in a professional manner.

With Zaira Zafarana, we are able to present the diverse problems that exist worldwide with the implementation of the right to conscientious objection directly within the UN system in Geneva.

Turkey Speaking Tour in February/March:
Members of our Turkish partner organisation «Conscientious Objection Watch» («Vicdani Ret İzleme») held events in eight locations in Italy, Switzerland and Germany. They spoke powerfully about their personal experiences with conscription and the lack of the right to conscientious objection, as well as the restrictions on their civil rights that haunt them throughout their lives. An additional focus was on the extent to which conscientious objection in the Kurdish regions represents a form of non—violent resistance to the state’s militaristic policies. They took part at the invitation of our representation to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, where they denounced the repression of conscientious objectors and presented concrete policy recommendations to bring about effective change. The biannual report of «Conscientious Objection Watch» can be read here.

15 May ⸻ International Day of Conscientious Objection:
Together with peace and human rights organisations, we organised a concert with Lebenslaute in Berlin called «For the Unknown Deserter». 200 chairs were labelled with the names of people who are being persecuted for their conscientious objection. They stood for hundreds of thousands who refuse to participate in various wars, evade military service, or desert. There were also speeches from Russia, Israel, and Angola. Or from the Israeli organisation «New Profile» («פרופיל חדש») explained: «Refusing military service does not mean being a hero. [...] We do it to use our privileges to make the voices of those suffering under occupation heard. And we do it so as not to be part of the injustices committed in our name». Rudi Friedrich emphasised: «Conscientious objection is not a "fair—weather right" that can be suspended at will. Conscientious objection is recognised as a human right and must be available at all times».

In mid—July, we received the devastating news that our managing director, Rudi Friedrich, had died in an accident. For 32 years, he was the face and driving force behind «Connection e.V.» He helped develop and implement all of our initiatives. The void he leaves behind is immense. We would therefore like to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone who is supporting us in this difficult situation and encouraging us in our endeavours. Our chairpersons Franz Nadler and Thomas Stiefel remember Rudi Friedrich’s life and life’s work in an obituary.

Russia Speaking Tour in October:
Human rights activists from «Stoparmy Movement» («Движение сознательных отказчиков») and Artem Klyga, Eastern Europe expert at «Connection e.V.», reported to an exceptionally interested and numerous audience in 10 locations in Germany and Austria. Topics included the tightening of legislation, particularly with regard to the recruitment of conscripts, the digitisation of conscription, and the use of pressure and violence to force conscripts to sign contracts so that they can be deployed as soldiers for an indefinite period. They reported on «extrajudicial executions» and brutal abuse and torture. They also reported on resistance in Russia, as well as the restrictive handling of EU entry and protection regulations, such as the de facto suspension of the issuance of humanitarian admission visas.

OUTLOOK: FORTHCOMING PROJECTS IN 2026

⸻ reading tour with Rolf Cantzen on his book «Deserters»;
⸻ theatre workshop for young people: «Conscription and Conscientious Objection»;
⸻ solidarity with conscientious objectors worldwide;
⸻ collaboration with the German Human Rights Forum;
⸻ lobbying for the human right to conscientious objection and asylum for conscientious objectors at the EU and the UN;
⸻ participation in the «Youth Future Summit 2026» in Geneva;
⸻ regular information on anti—militarist work, conscientious objection and asylum worldwide in our newsletter «KDV im Krieg».

We are looking forward to continue our close cooperations with our international partners, including:

⸻ «Eritrean Movement for Democracy and Human Rights», Great Britain;
⸻ «Angolan Anti—Militarist Initiative for Human Rights» («Iniciativa Angolana Antimilitarista para os Direitos Humanos»), Angola, Germany;
⸻ «The Anti—Militarist Collective La Tulpa» («Colectiva La Tulpa Antimiltarista»), Columbia;
⸻ «Refusers» («Mesarvot»), Israel;
⸻ «Our House» («Наш dом»), Lithuania, Belarus;
⸻ «Latin American and Caribbean Anti—Militarist Network» («Red Antimilitarista de América Latina y el Caribe»), Latin America;
⸻ «Soldiers’ Mothers of St. Petersburg» («Солdатские матери Санкт—Петербурга»), Russia;
⸻ «Stoparmy Movement» («Движение сознательных отказчиков»), Russia;
⸻ «Conscientious Objection Watch» («Vicdani Ret İzleme»), Turkey;
⸻ «War Resisters’ International», Great Britain;
⸻ «Women in Black» («Žene u crnom»), Serbia;
⸻ «World Without War» («전쟁없는세상»), South Korea.

Keywords:    ⇒ Antimilitarism   ⇒ Connection e.V.   ⇒ Counseling for deserters and refugees   ⇒ Germany   ⇒ Peace Movement