Inter­na­tio­nal Support of Conscien­tious Objec­tors and Deserters

Oral statement given at Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants

UN Human Rights Council, 56th Session

(26.06.2024) This morning, June 26th, on the occasion of the 56th session of the UN Human Rights Council, it took place in Geneva the conclusion of the Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants. Connection e.V. took the floor, in collaboration with WRI, to raise the issue of denial of asylum to conscientious objectors and to call on the members of the Human Rights Council to protect conscientious objectors whose human rights are violated in their country of origin.

War in Ukraine: France grants asylum to 19 deserters of the Russian army

(22.03.2024) Since the beginning of the year, 19 Russian citizens have been granted asylum in France as announced by the National Asylum Court (CNDA) on March 22, 2024. Russian soldiers who refused to fight in Ukraine were already granted refugee status by the CNDA in June 2023. According to the court’s decisions, which were "read out between January 1 and mid-March 2024, 19 asylum applications" were granted, the CNDA told AFP news agency on Friday.

Warrior Nation Podcast: "International anti-militarism: Ukrainian war resisters (SE5 EP3)"

(14.03.2024) Warrior Nation returns with a series exploring the work of leading anti-militarist organisations from around the world. With wars raging in Gaza, Ukraine and beyond, platforming critical voices has never been more important. In this episode, we’re talking with Marah Frech who works in the executive office of Connection e.V., a German anti-militarist group supporting deserters and resisters. We’re exploring this new front of struggle which exists at the intersection of war, migration and asylum.

Two years after the start of the war: PRO ASYL and Connection e.V. criticise asylum rejections of Russian refusers

(21.02.2024) Two years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) continues to reject Russian refusers and obliges them to return to Russia. Connection e.V. and PRO ASYL are alarmed by the BAMF’s reasoning, which ignores the risk for Russian refusers of being recruited in a war that violates international law.