Inter­na­tio­nal Support of Conscien­tious Objec­tors and Deserters

AUSTRIA AND GEORGIA ⸻ VIOLATIONS OF THE RIGHT TO CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION TO MILITARY SERVICE

Connection e.V. has prepared reports on the right to conscientious objection to military service in Austria and in Georgia and submitted them ahead of the 51st session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) where those two UN member states will be under review.

South Korea: Historical reporting to the UN CESCR

On the economic, social and cultural rights of conscientious objectors

(30.06.2025) Connection e.V. has just compiled a submission on the violations of economic, social and cultural rights of those who object to military service in the Republic of Korea and submitted to the UN CESCR to eventually address conscientious objection to military service also in relation to the violations of those specific rights, such as for instance the right to work.

You can read the full submission here. This report aims to suggest to CESCR specific issues to be included in the actual review of the country.

Oral statement given at Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus

UN Human Rights Council, 59th Session

(26.06.2025) Today at the UN in Geneva it took place at the 59th session of the UN Human Rights Council, the Interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus. On this occasion, Connection e.V. together with War Resisters’ International prepared and delivered a statement in the plenary addressing the right to conscientious objection to military service and the increasing militarization of the society including the educational system leading to underage exposure to militaristic trainings.

Ukraine: Appellate court is reluctant to acquit a conscientious objector

(23.06.2025) The Kyiv Court of Appeal has postponed until September 30 the consideration of the appeal of Valentyn Adamchuk, who asks to find him not guilty of evading the draft during mobilization. Adamchuk belongs to the Church of Christians of Evangelical Faith (Pentecostal) "Living Hope", whose creed prohibits the use of weapons. The Darnytskyi District Court of Kyiv sentenced him to three years in prison for his Christian faithfulness to the commandments and a request for alternative non-military service.