Inter­na­tio­nal Support of Conscien­tious Objec­tors and Deserters

Bolivia: ’Voluntary’ conscription of 17 year-olds and plans for substitute service

(09.10.2017) Plans for an alternative 'Social Action Service' have been announced by the Bolivian Ministry of Defence. Currently, no substitute to military service exists in the country.

Kuwait: Compulsory military service reintroduced

(07.10.2017) Conscription has officially been re-introduced in Kuwait following the enforcement of the the new mandatory military service law approved by the cabinet in May 2015. According to new law, which came into effect in April this year, all Kuwaiti men who turned 18 on 10th May 2017 and afterwards must register for conscription within 60 days of their new age.

Worsening situation of Eritrean refugees to be the focus of major conference

High interest at a pre visit in Brussels

(29.09.2017) A major conference is taking place in Brussels on the 19th of October 2017, focusing on the plight of Eritrean refugees. The conference, entitled ‘Eritrea and the On-going Refugee Crisis in Europe,’ will address the changing approach on the part of European asylum authorities, governments and the European Commission towards Eritrean refugees and asylum seekers. These issues will be discussed in the context of the worsening human rights crisis in Eritrea as documented by the UN commission of inquiry and the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights is Eritrea. Ms. Sheila B. Keetharuth, the UN Special Rapporteur, will appear in the conference as a keynote speaker.

Crimea: Forced Enlistment

(25.09.2017) Since the occupation began, residents of Crimea have been subjected to
conscription in the armed forces of the Russian Federation. Until 31 December 2016,
military service could only take place on the territory of the Crimean peninsula. Since
2017, conscripts can also be sent to serve on the territory of the Russian Federation.