Call for the protection of conscientious objectors from Türkiye at the UNHRC

30th September 2025

During each session of the Human Rights Council there is a specific item related to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). During this Council meeting there is the adoption by the Council of the outcome of the reviews of the Countries which participated in the last session of the UPR. Each country under review can accept recommendations or note them, meaning refusing to accept them.

Türkiye has been reviewed in the last session of the UPR and received 334 recommendations (par. 40) during its Fourth Universal Periodic Review held on 6 May 2025 and has noted about 74 of them.

«Connection e.V.», together with «War Resisters’ International» (WRI), took the floor in the plenary of the UN Human Rights Council to express disappointment because there has been not a single recommendation on the right to conscientious objection to military service, although this right is not recognized in the country and conscientious objectors are constantly living in a condition of «civil death».

The statement concluded with a strong call to to the Council to make full and timely use of the unique mechanism of the Human Rights Council’s UPR to support the full realisation of all human rights in the country under review, without leaving behind citizens whose lives are at risk.

31st Meeting ⸻ 60th Session of Human Rights Council ↷

Oral statement delivered by WRI, in collaboration with «Connection e.V.» ↷

Submission to the 49th session of UPR ⸻ Türkiye, conscientious objection to military service and related issues ↷

Keywords:    ⇒ Conscientious Objection   ⇒ Turkey   ⇒ United Nations