Inter­na­tio­nal Support of Conscien­tious Objec­tors and Deserters

Call to Eritrea to respect the human right to conscientious objection to military service

Statement given at 59th UN Human Rights Council

(16.06.2025) Connection e.V. in partnership with War Resisters International took the floor in the plenary at the opening of the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, to call for the recognition of the right to conscientious objection to military service in Eritrea.

Advocacy at the UN and much more, February till June 2025

Belarus, Mongolia, Eritrea, United States, Switzerland, Morocco, Guinea-Bissau, Kazakhstan, Türkiye, Latvia, ...

(15.06.2025) Zaira Zafarana, international advocacy coordinator of Connection e.V. raised the issue of conscientious objection to military service in different countries by submitting country-based reports to UN mechanisms for upcoming reviews and reporting.

Refusing to Kill: Statements of Conscientious Objectors

(15.05.2025) On the occasion of International Conscientious Objection Day, we are sharing the voices of conscientious objectors from around the world — individuals who have taken a stand against war and militarism by refusing to serve in the armed forces. These statements, collected from diverse countries and contexts, reflect the conviction and resilience of those who choose peace over violence. In a time of ongoing conflict and growing militarisation, their words remind us of the power of conscience and the importance of protecting the right to refuse to kill.

May 15th 2025: International Conscientious Objection Day

Social Media initiative started

(14.05.2025) Several organizations worldwide stand in solidarity with those who refuse to kill and engage in wars and are for this reason persecuted, criminalized and jailed. The undersigned organizations -active also at the European level- address a specific appeal to the European institutions and Member States to protect and fully implement the right to conscientious objection to military service: "We call on Europe to fully implement this human right and to protect those who object to military service in their own countries and that, because of persecutions, seek protection in European countries."

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