Inter­na­tio­nal Support of Conscien­tious Objec­tors and Deserters

Colombia: Statement of Conscientious Objectors

(26.04.2019) On this International Conscientious Objection Day, we stand in solidarity with conscientious objectors in Colombia, who refuse to be conscripted and bear arms despite various obstacles they face.

Below you will find a statement by conscientious objectors in Colombia, giving a background of their struggle and urging their government to act on a number of issues. If you would like to know more about the situation of conscientious objectors in Colombia you can read a recent report by ACOOC and Justapaz here  (in Spanish), or download its summary (in English) here.

South Korea: Freedom for the conscientious objectors!

Gallery to the International Day of Conscientious Objection

(15.05.2018) To the International Day of Conscientious Objection balloons were rising up in front of the South Korean embassy in Berlin. For every conscientious objector in jail one balloon was set to freedom symbolically. With this activists from about ten organizations were urging the South Korean government to set free about 300 conscientious objectors who are in prison. The vigil was organized by Arbeitskreis Internationalismus IG Metall, Ausschuss für die Partnerschaft der Ev. Kirche in Hessen und Nassau (EKHN) mit der Presbyterianischen Kirche in der Republik Korea (PROK), Propstei GwangJu, Connection e.V., Deutsche Friedensgesellschaft – Vereinigte KriegsdienstgegnerInnen (DFG-VK) Berlin-Brandenburg, Deutsche Ostasien Mission (DOAM), Europäisches Büro für Kriegsdienstverweigerung (EBCO), Ev. Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Kriegsdienstverweigerer für Frieden (EAK), International Peace Bureau (IPB), Internationale der Kriegsdienstgegner*innen (IDK), Korea Verband, Mennonitisches Friedenszentrum Berlin. We thank for the support of Ev. Mission in Solidarität.

Action Day to Support Conscientious Objectors from Israel

Gallery

(15.05.2016) On International Day of Conscientious Objection (May 15) in about 15 towns in Germany as well as in Jerusalem actions and vigils were held from May 13 to 16. Connection e.V. and AWC Germany e.V. were demanding together with many other groups and organisations that the Israelian government recognize the right to conscientious objection, release Tair Kaminer and Omri Baranes immediately and suspend all proceedings against conscientious objectors.

International delegation went to Diyarbakır and Cizre

Gallery

(30.04.2016) An international delegation has visited South East Turkey. The group – organised by international pacifist network War Resisters' International - concluded that the violent conflict between Turkey and the Kurdish PKK has caused enormous suffering and traumatisation among the civilian population of the Kurdish regions of Turkey. “We have seen parts of towns destroyed that reminded us of pictures from neighbouring Syria. We have seen bulldozers flattening ruins while old women were searching among the debris for remnants of their belongings. And we saw parts of the historical city of Diyarbakir hermetically closed of by police barriers, with nobody knowing what is happening behind the barriers”, reported Chair of War Resisters' International, Dr. Christine Schweitzer.