Inter­na­tio­nal Support of Conscien­tious Objec­tors and Deserters

Conscientious objection to military service

Resolution 20/2 of UN Human Rights Council, July 5, 2012

(05.07.2012) The Human Rights Council, Bearing in mind that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status,

Reaffirming that it is recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person, as well as the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and the right not to be discriminated against, ...

ECHR to Turkey: Refusal to grant conscientious objector status is not necessary in a democratic society

(12.06.2012) In today’s Chamber judgment in the case Savda v. Turkey (application no. 42730/05), the European Court of Human Rights held, unanimously, that there had been:

- violations of Article 3 (prohibition of degrading treatment) and 9 (right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion) of the European Convention on Human Rights; and

- a violation of Article 6 § 1 of the Convention on account of the lack of independence and impartiality of the military court.

Recognition of the right of conscientious objection

Violations of Articles 3, 6 and 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)

(17.01.2012) The European Court of Human Rights ruled in a case of a Turkish conscientious objector that Article 3, Article 9 and Article 6 § 1 were violated.

The absence of an alternative to military service in Turkey is in breach of the right to conscientious objection

(22.11.2011) In today’s Chamber judgment in the case Erçep v. Turkey (application no. 43965/04), which is not final, the European Court of Human Rights held, unanimously, that there had been:

A violation of Article 9 (right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion) of the European Convention on Human Rights and,

A violation of Article 6 (right to a fair trial) of the Convention.

The case concerned the refusal by the applicant, a Jehovah’s Witness and conscientious objector, to perform military service for reasons of conscience.