Connection e.V. participates in WRI International Gathering in Barcelona
16th December 2025
A delegation of «Connection e.V» ⸻ the full team composed of Artem, Nina and Zaira, together with the president Franz ⸻ has travelled to Barcelona at the end of November to join the 4—days meeting organized by «War Resisters’ International» (WRI) to strategize on «Resisting war, Building Peace».
This trip, planned ahead by our late director, Rudi Friedrich, has been an opportunity for the entire team ⸻ composed of experts not all based in Offenbach ⸻ to meet in person . It has thus been a team—strengthening experience and a great chance to network with colleagues from around the world and plan joint efforts to support the right to conscientious objection to military service and to refuse war everywhere.
DAY 1
On November 26th «Connection e.V.» team and president participated in the International Council of our partner «War Resisters’ International». We joined discussions and exchange of ideas on possible actions to support resistance to militarism. The meeting took place at the «Delàs Center for Peace Studies» (Centre Delàs d’Estudis per la Pau), a centre focussing on militarization of different aspects of society.
The meeting has been a great opportunity to meet with colleagues and activists from other countries such as, for instance, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Nepal, Finland, Chile, South Korea, USA, Italy, Spain, Sudan, Great Britain, Ukraine, Russia, Belarus, Switzerland and, of course, Germany. We did network and strengthened human relationships as well.
A particular attention has been given also to the work at the UN performed by our international advocacy coordinator, often preformed also on behalf of WRI.
The joint partnership has been strengthened as an important element for the 2026 WRI planning.
DAY 2
On Thursday 27th we joined strategic planning meetings and exchanged on refusing militarism addressing the topic of «conscientious objection to military service». Divided in working groups, we pondered and discussed «what does it mean and what can we do about it».
In the evening, our international advocacy coordinator Zaira Zafarana and our Eastern Europe program coordinator Artem Klyga did present «Connection e.V.» work at a public event together with panellists from «World Without War» (전쟁없는세상, South Korea), «New Profile» (פרופיל חדש, Israel) and «Militarism Observatory» (Observatorio de Militarismo, Columbia).
Panellists presented initiatives and actions to resist militarization in their countries and highlighted some points such as the importance of preparing to resist with informative initiatives, the power of people standing for human rights, the influence of militaristic propaganda and the increasing trend of militarization of schools.
The event has also been an opportunity to remember and pay tribute to Rudi Friedrich, our director, who planned our participation in this international gathering where he is very well known, but suddenly passed away in the summer.
DAY 3
On Friday 28th we continued to exchange with our international colleagues at the strategic meetings and concentrated on resources and competencies that we can use and offer to campaign and counter militarization.
Participants described their needs and presented what kind of tools and expertise they could share.
As «Connection e.V.» we also took part in this exchange of needs and expertise and made new contacts to further follow up.
In the evening we attended a public event where colleagues from Palestine, Ali Awad of «Youth Of Sumud» (Masafer Yatta) and Rawan Tayeh (Jordan Valley), and Sudan presented the dramatic local situation which needs the urgent attention and support of the international community.
Colleagues from Palestine described the worsening of the situation in the last two years and described their nonviolent resistance as well. Our colleague from Sudan virtually accompanied participants along the history of the dramatic violent situation in the country, highlighting the interferences and economical interests from other countries, European too.
DAY 4
In the last day at WRI gathering in Barcelona we had different experiences.
We attended the screening of the documentary «Et faran un home» (They will make a man out of you) on the tortures and violence which have been registered in the past in the military service in Spain. The documentary presented the testimony of different former conscripts who told their dramatic stories and the violence they experienced during their military service, even rape. The testimonies did also expand more on the concept of violence and perpetrators and on how that particular context did lead many to loose human control and to move from being victim of violence to perpetrator through a dramatic process of de—humanization. An interesting debate with the director Joan Torrents and the conscientious objector Tomàs Gisbert followed. Several questions were raised as well as comments and proposals to screen the documentary also in other countries where there is not yet a public conscience on such a kind of a violence, for instance in Italy and Germany, and where there is an ongoing discussion at the political level concerning the reintroduction of conscription.
We, then, attended the March in support of Gaza on the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People ⸻ November 29th.
In the afternoon, we joined a touching migrants tour of El Raval, a multicultural area of the city, which also disclosed resilient social projects to build community, overcome prejudice and refuse war, besides very beautiful view of the city.
Those days in Barcelona have been very constructive and interesting and we are thankful to all our colleagues, activists and human rights defenders from around the world for the valuable sharing and precious time spent together!
⸻ «Quaker United Nations Office», Europe;
⸻ «World Without War» (전쟁없는세상), South Korea;
⸻ «Conscientious Objection Watch» (Vicdani Ret İzleme), Turkey;
⸻ «Veterans For Peace», USA;
⸻ «New Profile» (פרופיל חדש), Israel;
⸻ «French Pacifist Union» (Union pacifiste de France), France;
⸻ «German Peace Society ⸻ United Conscientious Objectors» (Deutsche Friedensgesellschaft ⸻ Vereinigte Kriegsdienstgegnerinnen)*, Germany;
⸻ «Action for Peace» (Agir pour la Paix), Belgium;
⸻ «Latin American and Caribbean Anti—Militarist Network» (Red Antimilitarista de América Latina y el Caribe), Latin America*;*
⸻ «Militarism Observatory» (Observatorio de Militarismo), Colombia;
⸻ «Conscientious Objectors’ Union» (Aseistakieltäytyjäliitto, AKL), Finland;
⸻ «Pressenza»;
⸻ «War Resisters League», USA;
⸻ «Peace Movement Pais» (Vredesbeweging Pais, Netherlands; War Resisters’ International), Netherlands;
⸻ «Sinkuartel Antimilitarist Compa» (Sinkuartel Konpartsa Antimilitarista), Spain
and others.
We returned home with more connections, ideas and inspiration to strengthen our work in support and protection of all those who exercise their human right to conscientious objection to military service.
Keywords: ⇒ Conscientious Objection ⇒ Human Rights ⇒ Peace Movement