Inter­na­tio­nal Support of Conscien­tious Objec­tors and Deserters

Committee of Ministers of the European Council urges Turkey to recognize the right of conscientious objection

(13.06.2024) The Committee of Ministers DEEPLY REGRETTED that three of the applicants in these cases (Osman Murat Ülke, Yunus Erçep and Ersin Ölgün) are still considered draft evaders and continue to face the threat of criminal and administrative proceedings. STRONGLY URGED the authorities therefore to take without further delay all necessary measures to put an end to the violation of the applicants’ rights.

Ukraine: Stop the criminalization of peace and human rights speech and the prosecution of Yurii Sheliazhenko

Pacifism is not a crime

(07.06.2024) The undersigned organizations express their deep disappointment and grave concerns about the continuing harassment of peace activists and conscientious objectors, including the obviously arbitrary prosecution of Yurii Sheliazhenko, Executive Secretary of the Ukrainian Pacifist Movement and EBCO Board member, whose trial is set on 11 June 2024 at 14:15 Kyiv time, in the Pecherskyi District Court of Kyiv City (case No 757/16536/24-k, judge Oleg Bilotserkivets) and could result in jail sentence up to five years.

New military prison sentences for Israeli conscientious objectors

(24.04.2024) Israeli conscientious objectors Tal Mitnick and Sofia Orr were sentenced to 45 days in prison and 15 days probation for their refusal to take part in the war in Gaza and the ongoing occupation.

Israel: Conscientious objector Tal Mitnick imprisoned again

Please send a protest eMail

(23.01.2024) On Tuesday, 23rd January, conscientious objector Tal Mitnick, 18, from Israel was imprisoned again for his refusal to serve in the military. This is Tal’s second imprisonment and he was sentenced to 30 more days in military prison. He will have spent 60 days behind bars in total upon completion of his second term in prison. Send your protest email to the Israeli Minister of Defense here.