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: 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.