Many countries practice forceful recruitment for war. Objectors are discriminated against and persecuted. Connection e.V., an association founded in 1993, advocates a comprehensive right to conscientious objection at an international level. The organisation collaborates with groups opposing war, conscription and the military. Beyond Europe, our network extends to Turkey, the U.S., Israel, Latin America and Africa.
The danger of prosecution has forced many conscientious objectors to leave their countries. However, prosecution as a conscientious objector is usually not recognized as a reason for asylum. Connection e.V. demands that conscientious objectors from war regions should get asylum. We offer counseling and information to refugees and support for their self-organization.
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."
Week of Action for the International Day of Conscientious Objection, 15 May 2025
All events
Around the International Day of Conscientious Objection, 15 May, there will be events and actions in several countries: Istanbul, London, Seoul, Bogotá, Medellín, Carlisle, Liverpool, Wokingham, Oxford, Staffordshire, Leicester, Washington, Edinburgh, Göttingen, Celle, Aalen, Mainz, Oldenburg, Greifswald, Schwerin, Nottuln, Erlangen, Stuttgart, Mannheim, Marburg, Mainz, Bonn, Bielefeld, Osterholz-Scharmbeck, Berlin. With these events, we are calling for protection for all those who refuse to go to war. Conscientious objection is a human right, especially during war. Persecuted conscientious objectors and deserters need asylum!
Your help is needed - Conscientious objectors need new opportunities and perspectives
(22.04.2025)
Dear, we have really good news: Our team at Connection e.V. has been strengthened by Artem Klyga. Artem is a lawyer specializing in military law in Russia and has been living in Germany for two years. He will support conscientious objectors and deserters from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and other countries as part of the #ObjectWarCampaign.
