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.

Oral statement on the violations of human rights of conscientious objectors to military service

Delivered at the UN in Geneva

(05.03.2025) Connection e.V., in collaboration with War Resisters International, participated in the related interactive dialogue of UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief and took the floor in the plenary of the Council addressing the concerning violations of human rights of conscientious objectors to military service, for instance, in Eritrea, Türkiye, Israel, Russia and Ukraine.

Ukraine: Recruitment offices, military detain, pressure and torture conscientious objectors

(18.10.2024) On 11 June, Recruitment Office officials tortured Adventist conscientious objector Pavlo Halagan to pressure him to accept mobilisation. "They tied me to the bed with chains and began to physically torture, punch and beat me," he complained. On 1 July, at a military camp, "one commander grabbed me by the neck", Baptist conscientious objector Kiril Berestovoi complained. "He hit me on the head, beat me around the heart." The torture lasted half an hour. Officials use psychological pressure, detention (sometimes for several months), deprivation of food, threats, and beatings.

Turkey: CO Onur Erden denied asylum in Cyprus

Detained in a military prison on his return to Turkey

(19.07.2013) After his demand for political asylum was rejected by the Republic of Cyprus, Turkish conscientious objector Onur Erden was deported back to Istanbul via Jordan on Thursday, July 11th. He was arrested after his appearance in the court and transferred to military prison in Kasimpasa Naval Base in Istanbul. On 17 July, he was transferred to the 2nd Army Corps Command Military Prison in Gelibolu, Çanakkale. He remains in custody.