Inter­na­tio­nal Support of Conscien­tious Objec­tors and Deserters

UN Human Rights Committee Calls on Turkey: Recognise the Right to Conscientious Objection

(11.11.2024) Dear fellows, I am sending this e-mail to inform you about a recent observation by the UN Human Rights Committee. The UN Human Rights Committee considered Turkey’s second periodic report and reports from different civil society organizations during its meetings in October and issued its concluding observations in a document on 7 November 2024.

Review to conscientious objection on Turkey and Kyrgyzstan at United Nations

(01.11.2024) Connection e.V. has prepared and submitted to the UN two reports concerning the situation of the right to conscientious objection to military service in Turkey and Kyrgyzstan, in preparation of the Universal Periodic Review of these countries which will take place in April 2025.

Turkey: Update of Conscientious Objection Watch

Bulletin published - Activities July-October 2024

(01.11.2024) Dear fellows,

I am happy to inform you that the latest issue of the Conscientious Objection Bulletin has been released. Below you can find as well as a brief summary of the activities of the Conscientious Objection Watch in July-October 2024.

Ukraine: About new 300 criminal cases against conscientious objectors

(30.10.2024) The number of new criminal cases against conscientious objectors has surged since summer 2024 after the General Prosecutor’s Office wrote to local prosecutors. About 300 conscientious objectors now face criminal investigations which could lead – if cases reach court and end in convictions – to a 3 to 5 year jail term. Of the 89 cases related to 86 individuals that have already reached trial (listed in this article), courts handed down 9 jail terms (only one conscientious objector is currently in jail), with 11 suspended sentences. Trials in 66 of the 89 known cases that have reached trial are ongoing.