(10.03.2020) In July 2018 a peace treaty between Ethiopia and Eritrea was concluded, formally ending the border war between the two countries (1998-2000). This was followed in November 2018 by the lifting of UN sanctions against Eritrea. Since then, there have been repeated voices stating that the Eritrean regime has no more excuses to continue the repressive militarization of the population. Furthermore, the peace brought the hope that the human rights situation in the country would improve. However, as can be seen from the reports of Amnesty International, the UN Human Rights Committee, the UN Special Representative on the human rights situation in Eritrea and most recently Human Rights Watch, this is not the case.
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.
Connection e.V. Comment on the article in the Jerusalem Post of 15 Feb. 2018
„German bank enables pro-BDS NGO that supports IDF deserters“
(21.02.2018) On 14 February 2018, we received an e-mail inquiry by the journalist Benjamin Weinthal. Mr. Weinthal already denounced BDS activities as antisemitic in a number of articles, and in particular called on banks to block the accounts of groups that, in his opinion, engage in BDS activities. Since the questions he posed to us did not suggest an honest interest, did not relate to our work, he insisted on an immediate reply, and we did not consider ourselves qualified to pass public judgment on the work of others, we did not answer. On 15 February 2018, Benjamin Weinthal published in the Jerusalem Post the article “German bank enables pro-BDS NGO that supports IDF deserters”.
Decision of the European Court of Justice in the case of U.S. AWOL soldier André Shepherd
Connection e.V. and PRO ASYL: Much that is negative and little that is positive in the outcome
(26.02.2015) The network for conscientious objection Connection e.V. and PRO ASYL criticize today’s decision by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in the case of U.S. AWOL soldier André Shepherd (37) as insufficient and in part quite incomprehensible in its argumentation. “The ruling by the ECJ does not strengthen the position of conscientious objectors and deserters in political-asylum proceedings. The Court avoided some fundamental questions, and answered others unacceptably, contrary to the opinion submitted by the Advocate-General.” said Rudi Friedrich of Connection e.V.
