IFOR joins the appeal to European institutions about conscientious objectors

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MAY 15TH 2025, INTERNATIONAL CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION DAY

MAY 15TH 2025, INTERNATIONAL CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION DAY − Social media initiative

May 15th is International Day of Conscientious Objection to Military Service. Several organizations worldwide are planning initiatives to support this human right and to 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 which is inherent in art. 18 of the Human Rights Declaration and art. 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) on the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
This right is stated also in several other international and regional human rights charters.

At the European level we recall, for instance:

• Art. 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms;

• Art. 10 of the European Union Charter;

• Recommendation No. R (87) 8 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe; [1]

• Recommendation 1518 of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe; [2]

• De Gucht Resolution of the European Parliament;

• Rulings of the European Court of Human Rights that the right to conscientious objection to military service is protected under article 9 of the ECHR. [4]

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.

On 16 February 2023, in the resolution ‘One year of Russia’s invasion and war of aggression against Ukraine’, the EU Parliament demanded that Member States provide protection for conscientious objectors and deserters fleeing Belarus, Russia and occupied Ukraine. [5] However, this is not guaranteed in most Member States.

Europe has experienced the atrocities of war and should take a clear stand to protect those who object to war and effortlessly work for peace, to stop any war.

We recall as well the ongoing #ObjectWarCampaign calling for the protection of all those who refuse to engage in the war − particularly in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine and the global initiative #RefuseWar to stand for peace and refuse war everywhere.

On the occasion of this year's May 15th International Day, we are launching a social media initiative focused on Europe to inform and raise awareness on the right to conscientious objection to military service.

We prepared posts and graphic materials with testimonies of conscientious objectors to military service from several countries such as Israel, Russia, Türkiye. The social media kit available here. We invite individuals and groups to join in and stand up for the right to refuse to kill!

Connection e.V. - connection-ev.org

European Bureau for Conscientious Objection - ebco-beoc.org

Pax Christi International - paxchristi.net

Quaker Council for European Affairs - qcea.org

Un ponte per - unponteper.org

War Resisters International - wri-irg.org

Joint by:

International Fellowship of Reconciliation – ifor.org

Mouvement international de la Réconciliation - France - mirfrance.org/MIR

ONAD - South Sudan - onadev.org

Internationaler Versöhnungsbund e.V. - FOR Germany - versoehnungsbund.de

[1] Council of Europe, Committee of Ministers, Recommendation No. R(87)8, 9 April 1987, para. 8. https://www.refworld.org/legal/resolution/coeministers/1987/en/88968
[2] Council of Europe, Parliamentary Assembly, Recommendation 1518 (2001), para. 5.1. https://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/XRef/Xref-XML2HTML-EN.asp?fileid=16909&lang=en
[3] European Parliament, Resolution on respect for human rights in the European Community (annual report of the European Parliament), (Α3-0025/93), 11 March 1993, as it has been published in the Official Journal of the European Communities C 115, on 26 of April 1993, para. 49 (p. 183).
[4] European Court of Human Rights Grand Chamber Bayatyan v Armenia, application no. 23459/03 (20 July 2011).
[5] https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2023-0056_EN.html

15 MAI 2025, JOURNÉE INTERNATIONALE DE L'OBJECTION DE CONSCIENCE

Le 15 mai est la Journée internationale de l'objection de conscience au service militaire. Plusieurs organisations dans le monde prévoient des initiatives pour soutenir ce droit de l'homme et pour se solidariser avec ceux qui refusent de tuer et de s'engager dans des guerres et qui sont pour cette raison persécutés, criminalisés et emprisonnés.

Les organisations soussignées - actives également au niveau européen - adressent un appel spécifique aux institutions européennes et aux États membres pour qu'ils protègent et mettent pleinement en œuvre le droit à l'objection de conscience au service militaire qui est inhérent à l'article 18 de la Déclaration des droits de l'homme et l'art. 18 du Pacte international relatif aux droits civils et politiques (PIDCP) sur le droit à la liberté de pensée, de conscience et de religion. Ce droit est également énoncé dans plusieurs autres chartes internationales et régionales des droits de l'homme. Au niveau européen, nous rappelons, en particulier, ce qui suit :

• l'art. 9 de la Convention européenne des droits de l'homme et des libertés fondamentales ;

• l'art. 10 de la Charte de l'Union européenne ;

• la Recommandation n° R (87) 8 du Comité des Ministres du Conseil de l'Europe [1] ;

• la Recommandation 1518 de l'Assemblée parlementaire du Conseil de l'Europe [2] ;

• la Résolution De Gucht du Parlement européen [3] ;

• les décisions de la Cour européenne des droits de l'homme selon lesquelles le droit à l'objection de conscience au service militaire est protégé par l'article 9 de la Convention européenne des droits de l'homme [4].

Nous appelons l'Europe à mettre pleinement en œuvre ce droit de l'homme et à protéger ceux qui s'opposent au service militaire dans leur propre pays et qui, en raison de persécutions, cherchent une protection dans les pays européens.

Le 16 février 2023, dans la résolution « Un an après l'invasion russe et la guerre d'agression contre l'Ukraine », le Parlement européen a demandé aux États membres d'assurer la protection des objecteurs de conscience et des déserteurs fuyant la Biélorussie, la Russie et l'Ukraine occupée.5 Toutefois, cette protection n'est pas garantie dans la plupart des États membres.

L'Europe a connu les atrocités de la guerre et devrait prendre une position claire pour protéger ceux qui s'opposent à la guerre et travaillent sans effort pour la paix, pour arrêter toute guerre.

Nous rappelons également la campagne en cours #ObjectWarCampaign appelant à la protection de tous ceux qui refusent de s'engager dans la guerre - en particulier en Russie, en Biélorussie et en Ukraine et l'initiative mondiale #RefuseWar pour défendre la paix et refuser la guerre partout.

À l'occasion de la Journée internationale du 15 mai de cette année, nous lançons une initiative sur les médias sociaux centrée sur l'Europe pour informer et sensibiliser au droit à l'objection de conscience au service militaire.

Nous avons préparé des posts et du matériel graphique avec des témoignages d'objecteurs de conscience au service militaire de plusieurs pays tels qu'Israël, la Russie, la Turquie... [kit de médias sociaux disponible ici]. 

Nous invitons les individus et les groupes à se joindre à nous et à défendre le droit de refuser de tuer !

Connection e.V. - connection-ev.org

Bureau européen pour l'objection de conscience - www.ebco-beoc.org

Pax Christi International - www.paxchristi.net

Quaker Council for European Affairs - www.qcea.org

Un ponte per - www.unponteper.org

War Resisters International - www.wri-irg.org

Rejoints par :

International Fellowship of Reconciliation - www.ifor.org

Mouvement International de la Réconciliation - France - www.mirfrance.org/MIR

ONAD - Soudan du Sud - www.onadev.org

Internationaler Versöhnungsbund e.V. - FOR Allemagne - www.versoehnungsbund.de

[1] Council of Europe, Committee of Ministers, Recommendation No. R(87)8, 9 April 1987, para. 8. https://www.refworld.org/legal/resolution/coeministers/1987/en/88968

[2] Council of Europe, Parliamentary Assembly, Recommendation 1518 (2001), para. 5.1. https://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/XRef/Xref-XML2HTML-EN.asp?fileid=16909&lang=en

[3] European Parliament, Resolution on respect for human rights in the European Community (annual report of the European Parliament), (Α3-0025/93), 11 March 1993, as it has been published in the Official Journal of the European Communities C 115, on 26 of April 1993, para. 49 (p. 183).

[4] European Court of Human Rights Grand Chamber Bayatyan v Armenia, application no. 23459/03 (20 July 2011). 5https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2023-0056_EN.html

15 DE MAYO DE 2025, DÍA INTERNACIONAL DE LA OBJECIÓN DE CONCIENCIA

El 15 de mayo es el Día Internacional de la Objeción de Conciencia al Servicio Militar. Varias organizaciones de todo el mundo están planeando iniciativas para apoyar este derecho humano y solidarizarse con quienes se niegan a matar y a participar en las guerras y que son por ello perseguidos, criminalizados y encarcelados.

Las organizaciones abajo firmantes -activas también a nivel europeo- dirigen un llamamiento específico a las instituciones europeas y a los Estados miembros para que protejan y apliquen plenamente el derecho a la objeción de conciencia al servicio militar que es inherente al art. 18 de la Declaración de Derechos Humanos y en el art. 18 del Pacto Internacional de Derechos Civiles y Políticos (PIDCP) sobre el derecho a la libertad de pensamiento, conciencia y religión.

Este derecho se recoge también en otras cartas internacionales y regionales de derechos humanos. En el ámbito europeo recordamos, por ejemplo

• Art. 9 del Convenio Europeo para la Protección de los Derechos Humanos y de las Libertades Fundamentales;

•  Art. 10 de la Carta de la Unión Europea;

•  Recomendación nº R (87) 8 del Comité de Ministros del Consejo de Europa [1];

• Recomendación 1518 de la Asamblea Parlamentaria del Consejo de Europa [2];

• Resolución De Gucht del Parlamento Europeo [3];

• Sentencias del Tribunal Europeo de Derechos Humanos según las cuales el derecho a la objeción de conciencia al servicio militar está protegido por el artículo 9 del CEDH [4].

• Pedimos a Europa que aplique plenamente este derecho humano y que proteja a quienes objetan al servicio militar en sus propios países y que, debido a las persecuciones, buscan protección en países europeos.

El 16 de febrero de 2023, en la resolución «Un año de la invasión rusa y de la guerra de agresión contra Ucrania», el Parlamento de la UE exigió que los Estados miembros ofrecieran protección a los objetores de conciencia y desertores que huyen de Bielorrusia, Rusia y la Ucrania ocupada.5 Sin embargo, esto no está garantizado en la mayoría de los Estados miembros.

Europa ha experimentado las atrocidades de la guerra y debería adoptar una postura clara para proteger a quienes se oponen a la guerra y trabajan sin esfuerzo por la paz, para detener cualquier guerra.

Recordamos también la actual campaña #ObjectWarCampaign que pide la protección de todos aquellos que se niegan a participar en la guerra, especialmente en Rusia, Bielorrusia y Ucrania, y la iniciativa mundial #RefuseWar  para defender la paz y rechazar la guerra en todas partes.

Con motivo del Día Internacional del 15 de Mayo de este año, lanzamos una iniciativa en las redes sociales centrada en Europa para informar y sensibilizar sobre el derecho a la objeción de conciencia al servicio militar. Hemos preparado posts y material gráfico con testimonios de objetores de conciencia al servicio militar de varios países como Israel, Rusia, Türkiye. . .[kit de medios sociales disponible aquí]. Invitamos a individuos y grupos a unirse y ¡defender el derecho a negarse a matar! 14 de mayo de 2025

Connection e.V. - connection-ev.org

European Bureau for Conscientious Objection - www.ebco-beoc.org

Pax Christi Internacional - www.paxchristi.net

Quaker Council for European Affairs - www.qcea.org

Un ponte per - www.unponteper.org

War Resisters International - www.wri-irg.org

junto con:

Movimiento Internacional de Reconciliación - www.ifor.org

Mouvement International de la Réconciliation - Francia - www.mirfrance.org/MIR

ONAD - Sudán del Sur - www.onadev.org

Internationaler Versöhnungsbund e.V. - FOR Alemania - www.versoehnungsbund.de

[1] Council of Europe, Committee of Ministers, Recommendation No. R(87)8, 9 April 1987, para. 8. https://www.refworld.org/legal/resolution/coeministers/1987/en/88968

[2] Council of Europe, Parliamentary Assembly, Recommendation 1518 (2001), para. 5.1. https://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/XRef/Xref-XML2HTML-EN.asp?fileid=16909&lang=en

[3] European Parliament, Resolution on respect for human rights in the European Community (annual report of the European Parliament), (Α3-0025/93), 11 March 1993, as it has been published in the Official Journal of the European Communities C 115, on 26 of April 1993, para. 49 (p. 183).

[4] European Court of Human Rights Grand Chamber Bayatyan v Armenia, application no. 23459/03 (20 July 2011). 5https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2023-0056_EN.html

IFOR submits a report for the UN UPR of Belarus

The International Centre for Civil Initiatives “Our House”, Conscience and Peace Tax International (CPTI), the Center on Conscience & War, the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO), the International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR), the Fellowship of Reconciliation USA (FOR USA), the Fellowship of Reconciliation Austria, MIR France, the International Peace Bureau (IPB), World BEYOND War, and War Resisters’ International, (WRI) jointly submit a report for the UN Universal Periodic Review of Belarus.

The report documents serious human rights violations in Belarus amid its hybrid involvement in the war in Ukraine — including the militarisation of children, systemic repression, and the erosion of civil liberties. It places particular focus on the persecution of conscientious objectors, deserters, draft evaders, human rights defenders, and anti-war activists, urging the UN to hold Belarus accountable for deepening authoritarian control and forced militarisation.

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Letter of Zoughbi Zoughbi, IFOR president, to the cardinal Parolin

April 25, 2025

Your Eminence

It is with deep sadness that we have learned of the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis, and we give thanks to God for his life and witness.

The IFOR would like to express its admiration, and appreciation to his rich and blessed life. He was a beacon of hope and a source of inspiration for just love, rich spirituality, and deep integrity. we have lost a prophetic voice in these bleak times of our world. 

During his pontificate, he showed himself to be an advocate of peace based on justice and non-violence. He has tirelessly appealed to heads of state and peoples to work for this peace. He has shown particular concern for the people of Gaza and Palestine. He made a personal commitment to end the war in the Central African Republic, with strong gestures during his trip to Bangui in 2015, but also in South Sudan during the meetings organized in Rome in February 2019 and during his trip to Juba in 2023. He also prayed for the martyred people of Ukraine and Burma, and for all the victims of war around the world.

We give thanks for his support for evangelical nonviolence, as expressed in his message of January 1st, 2017, “Nonviolence: style of a policy for peace”, and on the occasion of the two conferences organized on this theme at the Vatican in 2016 and 2018 by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development.

Our interfaith movement has been very sensitive to the joint declaration on human brotherhood, which he signed on February 4, 2019 in Abu Dhabi with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed al-Tayeb, and to the many meetings he has had with leaders of various religious confessions. He took up and developed this theme of universal brotherhood in his encyclical Fratelli tutti in 2020.

We would also like to give thanks for his courageous and faithful defense of migrants and the poorest of the poor, which has marked his entire pontificate, since his visit and speech on the island of Lampedusa on July 8, 2013.

Likewise, the publication of his encyclical Laudato Si in 2015 raised awareness and encouraged the commitment of many Christians and men and women of good will to actively defend the environment.

It is our wish that Pope Francis' inspirations remain alive at the heart of the Catholic Church's action and prayer. We pray that God may send and embolden just and empathetic leaders to continue in this less travelled road of peace, nonviolence, and spirituality.

Yours respectfully

  Zoughbi Zoughbi

 IFOR   President

Pope Francis among cardinals in front on St Peter square (Photo C. Renoux)

In Memory of Pope Francis

The international Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR), one of the oldest standing and active interfaith peace movements in the world says it is with deep sorrow that we share with you the news of the passing of our beloved Holy Father, His Holiness Pope Francis.

The IFOR would like to express its admiration, and appreciation to the rich and blessed life of His Holiness Pope Francis. Pope Francis was a beacon of hope and a source of inspiration for just love, rich spirituality, and deep integrity.

Zoughbi Zoughbi, the president of IFOR writes that we have lost a prophetic voice in these bleak times of our world.  His holiness was a great example of vivacious dialogue and a true messenger of peace, centering humanity and the vulnerable in contention. indeed, He has composed many encyclicals on nonviolence, justice and hope, and his call for peace, love, and humanity will echo still for generations to come.

We pray that God may send and embolden just and empathetic leaders to continue in this less travelled road of peace, nonviolence, and spirituality.

Le Mouvement international de la Réconciliation (IFOR), l'un des plus anciens des mouvements interreligieux pour la paix dans le monde, déclare que c'est avec une profonde tristesse que nous partageons avec vous la nouvelle du décès de notre Saint-Père bien-aimé, Sa Sainteté le Pape François.

L'IFOR souhaite exprimer son admiration et sa reconnaissance pour la vie riche et bénie de Sa Sainteté le Pape François. Le Pape François était un phare d'espoir et une source d'inspiration pour l'amour juste, la spiritualité riche et l'intégrité profonde.

Zoughbi Zoughbi, président de l'IFOR, écrit que nous avons perdu une voix prophétique en ces temps sombres de notre monde. Sa Sainteté était un grand exemple de dialogue vivace et un véritable messager de paix, centré sur l'humanité et les personnes vulnérables. En effet, il a composé de nombreuses encycliques sur la non-violence, la justice et l'espérance, et son appel à la paix, à l'amour et à l'humanité résonnera encore pour les générations à venir.

Nous prions pour que Dieu envoie et encourage des dirigeants justes et empathiques à poursuivre sur cette voie moins fréquentée de la paix, de la non-violence et de la spiritualité.

El Movimiento Internacional de Reconciliación (IFOR), uno de los movimientos interreligiosos por la paz más antiguos del mundo, comparte con ustedes con profundo dolor la noticia del fallecimiento de nuestro amado Santo Padre, Su Santidad el Papa Francisco.

La IFOR desea expresar su admiración y reconocimiento por la rica y bendecida vida de Su Santidad el Papa Francisco. El Papa Francisco fue un faro de esperanza y una fuente de inspiración para el amor justo, la rica espiritualidad y la profunda integridad.

Zoughbi Zoughbi, el presidente de IFOR escribe que hemos perdido una voz profética en estos tiempos sombríos de nuestro mundo. Su santidad fue un gran ejemplo de diálogo vivaz y un verdadero mensajero de paz, centrando la humanidad y los vulnerables en la contención. De hecho, compuso muchas encíclicas sobre la no violencia, la justicia y la esperanza, y su llamamiento a la paz, el amor y la humanidad resonará aún durante generaciones.

Rezamos para que Dios envíe y envalentone a líderes justos y empáticos para continuar en este camino menos transitado de paz, no violencia y espiritualidad.

Il Movimento Internazionale della Riconciliazione (IFOR), uno dei più antichi movimenti interreligiosi per la pace nel mondo, afferma che è con profondo dolore che condividiamo con voi la notizia della scomparsa del nostro amato Santo Padre, Sua Santità Papa Francesco.

L'IFOR desidera esprimere la propria ammirazione e il proprio apprezzamento per la vita ricca e benedetta di Sua Santità Papa Francesco. Papa Francesco è stato un faro di speranza e una fonte di ispirazione per l'amore giusto, la ricca spiritualità e la profonda integrità.

Zoughbi Zoughbi, presidente dell'IFOR, scrive che abbiamo perso una voce profetica in questi tempi cupi del nostro mondo. Sua Santità è stato un grande esempio di dialogo vivace e un vero messaggero di pace, che ha messo al centro della contesa l'umanità e i vulnerabili. Ha infatti composto molte encicliche sulla nonviolenza, la giustizia e la speranza, e il suo appello alla pace, all'amore e all'umanità riecheggerà ancora per le generazioni a venire.

Preghiamo che Dio possa inviare e incoraggiare leader giusti ed empatici a continuare su questa strada meno battuta della pace, della nonviolenza e della spiritualità.

Pope Francis receiving and greeting the participants of the second conference on nonviolence organized at the Vatican on September 2018 / Le pape François recevant et saluant les participants à la deuxième conférence sur la non-violence organisée au Vatican en septembre 2018 / El Papa Francisco recibiendo y saludando a los participantes en la segunda conferencia sobre la no violencia celebrada en el Vaticano en septiembre de 2018 / Papa Francesco riceve e saluta i partecipanti alla seconda conferenza sulla nonviolenza tenutasi in Vaticano nel settembre 2018. (Photo C. Renoux)

Views from the DRCongo: Prospects for International Solidarity and Peace - Webinar on March 20th

The IFOR, in collaboration with the IPRA and with the support of the FOR US, is organizing a webinar on DRCongo: Views from the DRCongo: Prospects for International Solidarity and Peace.

The event will be held on Zoom at 3PM, New York time on Thursday, March 20th.  It will be in English with simultaneous interpretation services available for other languages.

Guest Speaker Biographies

Anny Tengamendite Modi is a co-founder and executive director of AFIA MAMA, an NGO focused on improving women's well-being and addressing issues such as stigma and discrimination faced by individuals living with HIV/AIDS, as well as survivors of gender-based violence. She is a feminist gender activist and expert in women's rights, justice, leadership, and development. She initiated a movement of young women leaders in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with the support of UN Women. Anny focuses on promoting young people's economic empowerment, sexual and reproductive health and rights, and advocating for young women's leadership development and political participation. Anny has received recognition for her work, including certificates of merit from UNFPA and the Katanga provincial government and the StrongLady2018 Award. Among her many projects, she leads a group of exceptional women in quarterly dialogues with the DRC head of state to prioritize gender equality on the national agenda.

Jean Pierre Massamba is originally from the Republic of Congo in Central Africa. Former Magistrate and retired Executive of a multinational oil company. Guarantor of the Code of Ethics and Anti-corruption Focal Point within the Congo subsidiary of the company Eni SpA. Arbitrator and Mediator in business law. Human rights trainer. Former Secretary General of the Action of Christians for the Abolition of Torture (ACAT Congo). Member of the Board of Directors of the Diocesan Commission for Justice and Peace in Pointe-Noire (Congo) and of the Board of Directors of the International Coordination for the Promotion of the Culture of Nonviolence and Peace. Coordinator of the Congolese Branch of IFOR (MIR Congo), Co-Vice-President of IFOR, Executive Director of the Africa Program of IFOR.

Evelyn Chihuguyu is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Kivu Province, city of Bukavu. She has a background in law and worked at the World Bank from 1998-2023. In 2015, she founded and became the President of Les Amis de Kamerhe (Friends of the Kamerhe) to support the fight for regime change and to end corruption as the majority of the population lived below the international poverty line despite the country’s vast mineral resources. In 2019, Evelyn founded and became the President of Kivu Rising, a non-profit organization engaging in social development and the alleviation of poverty in the rural areas in the Eastern Congo, which been suffering from the terrible consequences of war for nearly 3 decades. In 2023 she ran as a candidate for the position of National Deputy.

Moderator Bio

Matt Meyer is the author of numerous books on resistance and social change chiefly published by PM Press and Africa World Press. He is the Secretary General of the International Peace Research Association (IPRA), the Senior Research Scholar of the Resistance Studies Initiative, and a board member of the AJ Muste Foundation for Peace and Justice, and Waging Nonviolence. He is a member of the IFOR Africa Working Group and former co-chair of FOR-USA’s National Council.

No to Nuclear arms

Interfaith Statement to the Third Meeting of States Parties
to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons 

endorsed by IFOR

The statement will be delivered on Tuesday, March 4 during the general debate of the 3MSP.

As people of faith representing diverse traditions, united in our common belief in the sanctity of life and the pursuit of justice, peace, and human dignity, we commend the States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) for your historic commitment and leadership in working toward a world without nuclear weapons. Each signature and ratification affirming this Treaty is an act of courage and beacon of hope, and we applaud you. 

At this third meeting of States Parties, we find ourselves yet again at a critical juncture, with ever-rising global tensions, humanitarian crises in many regions of the world, worsening impacts of climate change, and heightened threat of the use of nuclear weapons. In our continuous struggle against such existential threats, abolishing nuclear weapons cannot be a distant goal; it is a requirement for our collective survival. 

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the horrific atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We solemnly remember and honor all hibakusha, who have suffered the unimaginable pain as a result of such inhumane weapons. We celebrate Nihon Hidankyo for receiving the latest Nobel Peace Prize, and for their unending leadership and courage in ushering in a world without nuclear weapons. Building upon the heightened global awareness of the devastating consequences of nuclear weapons, we must seize this opportunity and momentum to create tangible progress toward nuclear disarmament. 

As people of faith, we pray. We pray that nuclear weapons will never be used again. We pray that those whose lives were impacted by such horrific weapons receive assistance and remediation as soon as possible. We pray that all nations awaken to the folly of the logic of claiming their own security at the cost of the survival of humanity and our planet, and choose the path of nuclear abolition. 

But our prayers are not abstract ideology or wishful thinking. Our actions are our prayer, as exemplified by many courageous individuals of faith, who have stood up against nuclear weapons and spoken the truth, because they truly believed that their faith demanded such actions. And this is why we, as faith communities, are again uniting our voices today. 

As faith communities, we affirm the TPNW and celebrate this Treaty which signals the world’s moral, legal, and practical rejection of nuclear weapons. We join you in your efforts to universalize and implement the Treaty. 

We stand in solidarity with victims and survivors, recognizing the deep suffering of hibakusha, Indigenous communities impacted by nuclear testing, and all who have borne the brunt of the nuclear arms race. Their testimonies are a testament to their resilience and a clarion call for justice. 

We commit to interfaith collaboration to educate, advocate, and mobilize our communities to support the Treaty and the broader goal of nuclear abolition. We will challenge apathy, ignorance, powerlessness and silence through our work grounded in our spiritual commitment. Our collective spiritual and moral voice is vital in shaping the world’s public opinion and strengthening the norms against nuclear weapons. 

We commend the leadership of the TPNW States Parties, and urge you to implement the Treaty with integrity, ensuring transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in its processes. We encourage each State Party to continue to invite other states to join this work, to participate in this process of nuclear disarmament as we universalize the Treaty.

We urge all nations, particularly those currently possessing nuclear weapons or under their deterrence umbrellas, to join the Treaty without delay, to formalize the commitment that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.

Addressing the UN General Assembly in 1998, Nelson Mandela stated: “We must ask the question, which might sound naive to those who have elaborated sophisticated arguments to justify their refusal to eliminate these terrible and terrifying weapons of mass destruction – why do they need them anyway?”

The future of humanity is a world without nuclear weapons. We are here today, because of this shared vision, and we cannot be complacent as our world is heading toward its destruction. 

Nuclear faith is a faith that secures death. We want to pursue a faith that leads to life.

We invite all of you to join us in connecting once again with your religious, spiritual and moral compass, and courageously imagine a future we want, for ourselves, and for our future generations. Let us awaken to the truth that we all are connected, that we cannot build security at the cost of others’ pain and suffering. Let each of us take full responsibility in ushering in such a future—because there is no alternative. 

Déclaration interconfessionnelle adressée à la troisième réunion des États parties au Traité sur l'interdiction des armes nucléaires

Cette déclaration sera rendue publique le mardi 4 mars pendant le débat général de la 3MSP

Gens de foi appartenant à des traditions diverses, unis dans notre croyance commune que la vie est sacrée et dans la recherche de la justice, de la paix et de la dignité humaine, nous félicitons les États parties au Traité sur l'interdiction des armes nucléaires (TIAN) pour leur engagement historique et leur leadership dans l'instauration d'un monde sans armes nucléaires. Chaque signature et chaque ratification de ce traité sont des actes courageux et des lueurs d'espoir, et nous vous en félicitons.

À l'occasion de cette troisième réunion des États parties, nous nous trouvons une fois de plus à un moment critique, avec des tensions mondiales toujours plus fortes, des crises humanitaires dans de nombreuses régions du monde, l'aggravation des effets du changement climatique et la menace accrue de l'utilisation d'armes nucléaires. Dans notre lutte permanente contre ces menaces existentielles, l'abolition des armes nucléaires ne peut être un objectif lointain ; c'est une exigence pour notre survie collective.

Cette année marque le 80e anniversaire des horribles bombardements atomiques d'Hiroshima et de Nagasaki. Nous faisons solennellement mémoire de tous les hibakusha, qui ont vécu des souffrances inimaginables infligées par ces armes inhumaines et nous leur rendons hommage. Nous rendons aussi hommage à Nihon Hidankyo, qui a reçu le dernier prix Nobel de la paix, pour son leadership et son courage sans faille dans l'avènement d'un monde sans armes nucléaires. En nous appuyant sur la prise de conscience mondiale des conséquences dévastatrices des armes nucléaires, nous devons saisir cette opportunité et cet élan pour réaliser des progrès tangibles vers le désarmement nucléaire.

En tant que croyants, nous prions. Nous prions pour que les armes nucléaires ne soient plus jamais utilisées. Nous prions pour que les personnes dont la vie a été affectée par ces armes horribles reçoivent de l'aide et des réparations dès que possible. Nous prions pour que toutes les nations prennent conscience de la folie de la logique qui consiste à revendiquer sa propre sécurité au détriment de la survie de l'humanité et de notre planète, et choisissent la voie de l'abolition nucléaire.  

Mais nos prières ne sont pas une idéologie abstraite ou un vœu pieux. Nos actions sont nos prières, comme en témoignent de nombreux croyants courageux qui se sont élevés contre les armes nucléaires et ont dit la vérité, parce qu'ils croyaient sincèrement que leur foi exigeait de telles actions. C'est pourquoi, en tant que communautés de foi, nous unissons à nouveau nos voix aujourd'hui.

En tant que communautés religieuses, nous affirmons la Semaine de la paix et célébrons ce traité qui marque le rejet moral, juridique et pratique des armes nucléaires dans le monde. Nous nous joignons à vous dans vos efforts pour rendre ce traité universel et le mettre en œuvre.

Nous sommes solidaires des victimes et des survivants ; nous reconnaissons les profondes souffrances des hibakusha, des communautés autochtones touchées par les essais nucléaires et de toutes celles et ceux qui ont subi les conséquences de la course aux armements nucléaires. Leurs témoignages sont la preuve de leur résilience et sont un appel à la justice.

Nous nous engageons à collaborer au niveau interconfessionnel pour éduquer, défendre et mobiliser nos communautés en faveur du traité et de l'objectif plus large de l'abolition du nucléaire. Nous défierons l'apathie, l'ignorance, l'impuissance et le silence par notre travail fondé sur notre engagement spirituel. Notre voix spirituelle et morale collective est essentielle pour façonner l'opinion publique mondiale et renforcer les normes contre les armes nucléaires.

Nous saluons le leadership des États parties au Traité de non-prolifération des armes nucléaires et nous les invitons à le mettre en œuvre avec intégrité, en veillant à la transparence, à la responsabilité et à l'inclusion dans ses processus. Nous encourageons chaque État partie à continuer d'inviter d'autres États à se joindre à ce travail, à participer à ce processus de désarmement nucléaire en vue, pas à pas, de rendre ce traité universel 

Nous demandons instamment à toutes les nations, en particulier celles qui possèdent actuellement des armes nucléaires ou qui se trouvent sous leur parapluie de dissuasion, d'adhérer sans délai au traité, afin d'officialiser l'engagement selon lequel une guerre nucléaire ne peut pas être gagnée et ne doit jamais être menée.

S'adressant à l'Assemblée générale des Nations unies en 1998, Nelson Mandela a déclaré : « Nous devons poser la question, qui peut sembler naïve à ceux qui ont élaboré des arguments sophistiqués pour justifier leur refus d'éliminer ces terribles et terrifiantes armes de destruction massive : pourquoi en ont-ils besoin de toute façon ? ».

L'avenir de l'humanité est un monde sans armes nucléaires. Nous sommes ici aujourd'hui, portée par cette vision commune, et nous ne pouvons pas nous reposer sur nos lauriers alors que notre monde se dirige vers sa destruction.

La foi dans le nucléaire est une foi qui conduit à la mort assurée. Nous voulons rechercher une foi qui mène à la vie.

Nous vous invitons tous à nous rejoindre pour suivre une fois encore votre boussole religieuse, spirituelle et morale, et pour imaginer courageusement l'avenir que nous voulons pour nous-mêmes et pour les générations futures. Prenons davantage conscience qu’en vérité nous sommes tous liés, que nous ne pouvons pas construire notre sécurité au prix de la douleur et de la souffrance d'autrui. Que chacun d'entre nous s’engage pleinement à bâtir un tel avenir, car il n'y a pas d'autre solution.

Declaración interreligiosa ante la Tercera Reunión de Estados Parte del TPAN

Como personas de fe que representan diversas tradiciones, unidas en nuestra creencia común en la santidad de la vida y la búsqueda de la justicia, la paz y la dignidad humana, elogiamos a los Estados Parte del Tratado de Prohibición de Armas Nucleares (TPAN) por su compromiso histórico y el liderazgo en el trabajo hacia un mundo sin armas nucleares. Cada firma y ratificación de este Tratado es un acto de valentía y un faro de esperanza, y os aplaudimos.

En esta tercera reunión de los Estados Parte, nos encontramos una vez más en una coyuntura crítica, con tensiones mundiales cada vez mayores, crisis humanitarias en muchas regiones del mundo, un empeoramiento de los efectos del cambio climático y una mayor amenaza del uso de armas nucleares. En nuestro trabajo continuo contra estas amenazas existenciales, la abolición de las armas nucleares no puede ser un objetivo lejano; es un requisito para nuestra supervivencia colectiva.

Este año se conmemora el 80º aniversario del horrible bombardeo atómico de Hiroshima y Nagasaki. Recordamos solemnemente y honramos a todas las personas hibakusha, que han sufrido un inimaginable dolor como resultado de tan inhumanas armas. Celebramos que Nihon Hidankyo haya recibido el último Premio Nobel de la Paz por su inquebrantable liderazgo y valentía en el camino hacia un mundo sin armas nucleares. Aprovechando la mayor concienciación mundial sobre las devastadoras consecuencias de las armas nucleares, debemos impulsar el progreso tangible hacia el desarme nuclear.

Como personas de fe, rezamos. Rezamos para que nunca se vuelvan a utilizar armas nucleares. Rezamos para que quienes han visto afectadas sus vidas por tan horribles armas reciban ayuda y reparación lo antes posible. Rezamos para que todas las naciones despierten de la locura de la lógica de reclamar su propia seguridad a costa de la supervivencia de la humanidad y de nuestro planeta, y elijan el camino de la abolición nuclear. 

Pero nuestras oraciones no son ideología abstracta o ilusiones. Nuestras acciones son nuestras oraciones, como han demostrado muchas personas de fe valientes, que se han levantado contra las armas nucleares y han dicho la verdad, porque realmente creían que su fe exigía tales acciones. Y por eso nosotras, como comunidades religiosas, unimos hoy de nuevo nuestras voces.

Como comunidades religiosas, afirmamos el TPAN y celebramos este Tratado que señala el rechazo moral, legal y práctico del mundo a las armas nucleares. Nos unimos a sus esfuerzos para universalizar y aplicar el Tratado.

Nos solidarizamos con las víctimas y las personas supervivientes, reconociendo el profundo sufrimiento del colectivo hibakusha, de las comunidades indígenas afectadas por los ensayos nucleares y de quienes han sufrido las consecuencias de la carrera armamentística nuclear. Sus testimonios muestran su capacidad de resistencia y un claro llamamiento a la justicia. 

Nos comprometemos a una colaboración interreligiosa para educar, defender y movilizar a nuestras comunidades en apoyo del Tratado y del objetivo más amplio de la abolición nuclear. Afrontaremos la apatía, la ignorancia, la impotencia y el silencio a través del trabajo basado en nuestro compromiso espiritual. La voz moral de esta espiritualidad colectiva es vital para conformar la opinión pública mundial y reforzar las normas contra las armas nucleares.

Elogiamos el liderazgo de los Estados Parte del TPAN y les instamos a aplicar el Tratado con integridad, garantizando la transparencia, la responsabilidad y la inclusión en sus procesos. Animamos a cada Estado Parte a seguir invitando a otros Estados a unirse a este trabajo, a participar en el proceso de desarme nuclear a medida que universalizamos el Tratado.

Instamos a todas las naciones, en particular a las que actualmente poseen armas nucleares o están bajo su paraguas disuasorio, a que se adhieran al Tratado sin demora, para formalizar el compromiso de que no se puede ganar una guerra nuclear y de que nunca se debe librar.

Dirigiéndose a la Asamblea General de la ONU en 1998, Nelson Mandela declaró: «Debemos hacernos la pregunta, que puede sonar ingenua a quienes han elaborado sofisticados argumentos para justificar su negativa a eliminar estas terribles y aterradoras armas de destrucción masiva: en todo caso, ¿por qué las necesitan?».

El futuro de la humanidad es un mundo sin armas nucleares. Estamos hoy aquí, gracias a esta visión compartida, y no podemos ser complacientes mientras nuestro mundo se dirige hacia su destrucción. 

La fe nuclear es una fe que asegura la muerte; sin embargo, buscamos una fe que conduzca a la vida.

Os invitamos a uniros para conectar de nuevo con vuestra brújula religiosa, espiritual y moral, e imaginar con valentía el futuro que queremos para cada persona y para las generaciones venideras. Despertemos a la verdad de que todos los pueblos estamos conectados, de que no podemos construir la seguridad a costa del dolor y el sufrimiento de los demás. Asumamos cada persona la plena responsabilidad de marcar el comienzo de ese futuro, porque no hay alternativa.

Endorsing Organizations / Organisation signataires /Organizaciones firmantes :

ACT Alliance - Action by Churches Together

American Friends Service Committee

Anglican Church of México, Social Ministrie

Association Modeste et Innocent 

beHuman

Buddhist Council of New York

Buddhist Council of NSW

Cameroon Youths and Students Forum for Peace (CAMYOSFOP)

Catholic Religious Australia 

​​Center for Peace Education, Miriam College

Centro de Estudios Ecuménicos

Christian CND

Christians for Peace Newcastle Australia

Church and Peace - European Ecumenical Peace Network

Church of Norway Council on Ecumenical and International Relations 

CIDSE - International family of Catholic social justice organisations (International)

Colonie des Pionniers du Developpement(CPD)

Columban Centre for Christian-Muslim Relations, Blacktown NSW Australia

Columban Region of Oceania

Comisión General Justicia y Paz 

Communauté du Christ France

Community of Christ

Community of Christ (British Isles)

Community of Christ (Western Europe)

Community of Sant'Egidio

Congregazione Poveri Serví Divina Provvidenza- Ópera Don Calabria

Derechos de la Infancia y la Adolescencia, México

Dominican Sisters ~ Grand Rapids

Dorothy Day Catholic Worker

Federation of Australian Buddhist Councils

Fellowship of Reconciliation - USA

Friends World Committee for Consultation Asia West Pacific (Quakers)

Heiwa Peace and Reconciliation Foundation of New York

Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Loreto Generalate

Interfaith Council of Southern Nevada

International Convocation of Unitarian Universalist Women

International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR)

​​International Peace Research Association

Interreligious Council of Albania

InterReligious Task Force on Central America 

Islamic Relief Worldwide 

JESC - Jesuit European Social Centre

Justice and Peace Office Sydney Archdiocese

Justice & Peace Scotland (Scottish Catholic Justice and Peace Commission)

Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission Union of Superiors General (USG) and International Union of Superiors General (UISG)

Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers 

Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns

Medical Mission Sisters, Justice Office

Mennonite World Conference

Misioneros Javerianos

Missionary Society of St. Columban

Multifaith Voices for Peace & Justice

National Council of Churches in Australia (NCCA)

National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA

Norfolk Catholic Worker

North American Unitarian Association

North Carolina Council of Churches 

Northern Friends Peace Board

Orcas Island Friends Worship Group 

Parliament of the World’s Religions 

Pax Christi Aotearoa New Zealand

Pax Christi Flanders

Pax Christi Greensburg

Pax Christi Illinois 

Pax Christi International

Pax Christi Little Rock

Pax Christi Long Island

Pax Christi New York State

Pax Christi Pacific Northwest

Pax Christi Scotland

Pax Christi Southern California 

Pax Christi USA

People for Peace in Africa

Pope John XXIII Community Association

Presbyterian Peace Fellowship

Qld Quakers Peace & Social Justice working group

Quakers Australia

Quakers SA and NT

Raelian Religion

Red de Entidades para el Desarrollo Solidario-REDES

Red de Seguridad Humana para América Latina y el Caribe (SEHLAC)

Religions for Peace UK

Rissho Kosei Kai of New York 

Shepparton Interfaith Network

Sisters of Charity Federation

Sisters of Mercy of the Americas - Justice Team

Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur

Sisters of St. Francis, Clinton, Iowa USA

Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace

Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield

Soka Gakkai International

The Church of the Lord (TCL) Worldwide 

The  Swedish Society of Friends

The United Methodist Church - General Board of Church and Society

Union for the Promotion/Protection and Defense of Human Rights and the Environment (UPDDHE/GL)

Uniting Church in Australia

United Church of Christ

Vision GRAM INTERNATIONAL

Voices for a World Free of Nuclear Weapons, a Cooperation Circle of the United Religions Initiative 

Wellspring Community  of Australia

Wings for Amazon Project

Won Buddhist International, Inc. 

World Council of Churches

World Yoga Community

Yearly Meeting of Aotearoa New Zealand / Te Hāhi Tūhauwiri  

Joint statement on the protection of Russian and Belarusian conscientious objectors in the EU

On 16 February 2023, in the resolution ‘One year of Russia’s invasion and war of aggression against Ukraine’, the EU Parliament demanded that Member States provide protection for conscientious objectors and deserters fleeing Belarus, Russia and occupied Ukraine. However, this is not guaranteed in most Member States. 

With very few exceptions, Russians refusing to fight in Ukraine are finding it impossible to get humanitarian visas from EU Member State embassies in places like Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia where they can travel without an international passport. Often they are told to go back to Russia to apply at the embassies there, despite their safety being at risk in those countries. In Lithuania, those fleeing military service in Belarus often find themselves under threat of deportation. This despite the real risk of intimidation, arrest or imprisonment, especially for those who leave military service. 

Russian deserter Sasha (name changed) describes his situation as follows:

I was forcibly conscripted and sent to the front. I did not want to participate in the bloody russian invasion of Ukraine and take part in killing innocent people. From the first day of mobilization I was looking for a way to escape from my military unit and leave russian army.

(…) I believed I would find protection in Europe, but so far it wasn’t the case. I fled to France via Armenia and Croatia. However, after a few months, I’ve received an order to move back to Croatia. This country, in most cases, does not grant asylum to russian citizens. I fear that from there, I could be deported to Bosnia and then to russia. 

Meanwhile, Civil Society Organisations that help those refusing to fight find themselves labelled as ‘foreign agents’.

We call on the European Parliament to reiterate its demand to Member States to provide protection for those who are at risk because they refuse to fight, in line with UNHCR Guidelines on International Protection. We ask Member States to offer humanitarian visas to those who refuse to fight, and thus exercise the human right to conscientious objection to military service, whether they refuse conscription or make that decision while in training, in service or as reserves.

Signed by:

Quaker Council for European Affairs (QCEA)

European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO)

German Peace Society – United War Resisters

Un Ponte Per ETS (UPP)

Pax Christi International

Connection e.V.

War Resisters’ International (WRI)

International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR) 

Reflection on the Present Situation

Wi'am, the Palestinian Conflict Transformation Center, shares with us its reflection on the present situation. Zoughbi Zoughbi, president of IFOR, is the founder and the director of this center based in Bethlehem

Photo Wiam

In Genesis 1:27, humankind  is made in God’s image.  In Genesis 2:7, God has breathed life into God’s image, giving life to people. Whether from a spiritual or secular foundation, we believe that all life is sacred, human, and otherwise, and that all life and by the very giving of life, has an equitable right to life, happiness, and dignity. 

Life’s sacredness, however, is neither afforded nor recognized in warfare and violent conflict.  On October 7th, the world was horrified at the bloodshed and loss of life in Israel/Palestine, and rightfully so, as any preventable loss of life is a travesty and tragedy. The actions committed that weekend have been cluttered with a series of misinformation and disinformation meant to mar understanding and pacify any voices of dissent at the ensuing gross violations of human rights, dehumanization, and genocidal practices that followed.

It is important to remember that the events of Oct. 7th did not happen in a vacuum, and the positing of these events as the beginning of a war serves to ignore and deflect from the years of apartheid occupation and dehumanization that Palestinians in the West Bank, including Jerusalem, and especially, in the blockaded Gaza Strip and in Israel proper have experienced at the hands of the militarized settler colonial project of Israel. To add insult to injury, these unjust practices and gross violations of human right have enjoyed support and even impunity through the largely socially militarized and industrial military complexes of the Global North and West, including  that of the Canadian government. 

The acts of a few, fueled by their unrecognized grievances, continued oppression, and desperation has been posited and framed in terms of ‘terrorism’ to quell any attempts of contextualization, and to deposit and present these groups internationally as a monolith, and one that is inherently violent, marked by savagery and backwardness, in alignment with historical colonial troupes and practices. While at the same time, the well-funded, technologically advanced military’s devastation of over 34,000 Palestinian lives, including that of over 14,000 children is posited as ‘self-defense’. The sheer destructive practice since Oct. 7th has resulted in well over 80,000 injuries,  the displacement of 2.2 million Palestinians, the collapse of their healthcare systems, and the destruction and injury of civilians and institutional infrastructures, including universities, mosques, and churches. 

These horrific actions make us question where the sacred human may be located in the Gaza Strip. Do they lay under the rebel, still undiscovered, or in the mass graves with no names, have they been forgotten with the effective extermination of the entire family tree, or are they one of the 19,000 orphaned children left alone to survive, have they been lost or deformed by the  hunger or malnutrition, or are they fighting for sleep with the families and people taking refuge in a make-shift tents in attempt to shield from the weather forecasts, and the deafening  promises of death raining down all around them? Or is this sacred human much like the silent tree in the forest, hidden and felled with no one willing to witness as the abducted Palestinian prisoners, yet to be accounted for?  And beyond their location, where will these sacred lives find refuge? Will the surviving people flee to Egypt like the Holy family, and if so, will they ever be able to find passage back, and what is to remain of all that they were, and were?  

As words lose their meaning in the backdrop of the unfathomable misery and pain, we remember that we have been here before, and we also remember that we are not alone. We have been here before, the surfacing eyes of forcefully emaciated persons staring into the void, looking for signs of hope, waiting to feel the winds of change upon them, as they continue to invite the world’s gaze, in hopes that it may recognize them, to see them as humans, brothers, sisters, and persons worthy of life. We have been here before and are here elsewhere, in the DRC, in Yemen, in the Sudan’s, Haiti, Ukraine, and all around and amongst us, moved to the periphery, disenfranchised, hungry, homeless, unemployed, and incarcerated. Our liberties stripped away, and our sacredness forgotten and neglected, buried  in fear politics that utilize complex and deeply pervasive systemic practices of oppression.

TURN SWORDS INTO PLOWS!

Yet, we have not only failed to do so, but have supported the development of more sophisticated tools of destruction.  What of assault rifles and tanks, of missiles and  rockets, shall they be turned into crutches, gravestones, and homes for the disenfranchised, or shall we continue to allow them to messenger death and destruction!

As the land dries up, the moisture collects, polluted with sadness to water the land with tears, where they lay.  There is another way! There are OTHER ways, less destructive, less violent, and less dehumanizing, ways that do not force symphonies of sadness into our hearts, but instead bridge the gaps, and present the sacredness again, so that it may thrive, coexist, and live side by side.  The sacred being fully appeared, as our weapons and tools of destruction replaced, disappear. 

Where is our sacredness and will it once again appear? The system names itself too great, too distant, or strong, but this system is what we make, and through silence perform supportive song. 

So let us speak up and stand for all that we believe and wish.  Let us call upon the sacredness of those who serve.  Let us call for a lasting ceasefire, and cessation of war. Let us support and prioritize the provision of all that sustains life, and let us call for the release of all hostages and prisoners.  Let us ring free Gaza, free Palestine and free all!

To call for the liberation of the Palestinians and cessation of war, is to liberate both Israeli and Palestinian from the dichotomy of oppressor and oppressed, respectfully, which is upheld by blind-international support and impunity and strengthened through industrial-military linkages.  To liberate us from this cycle of violence is to afford all involved a real opportunity towards just reconciliation and healing.  It is to offer all who dwell in the bloodied ‘holy-land’ a chance to build a sustainable positive-peace, encompassing security at the meaningless cost of national and political interests and an oppressive system, instead of at the costly life and livelihood of the Palestinian. It is to affirm globally that no one ever could or does deserve colonization, that no one could or ever will deserve occupation, and that no one ever could or should deserve genocide. It is to stand firm and strong and affirm the unalienable right to life for all, understanding that NEVER AGAIN means now and includes everyone!

Finally, to effectively work towards a ceasefire and an end to occupation, is to expand our table and enrichen our lives, it is to  afford and recognize in each other our inherent sacredness, which reflect a greater image of God than the greatest of which our divisions could ever hold. A greater, more just, and complete image of life, accessible to ALL that live and lives. 

Wiam’s website: https://www.alaslah.org/

Belarusian conscientious objectors in danger in the EU

French below

Conscientious objectors Vitali Dvarashyn and Mikita Sviryd

are under threat of deportation to Belarus by Lithuania

The undersigned organizations are genuinely concerned by the threat of the Lithuanian authorities to immediately deport the Belarusian conscientious objector Vitali Dvarashyn and deserter Mikita Sviryd to Belarus where they are at risk of persecution, imprisonment, and death penalty. We demand immediate action from the Lithuanian authorities to prevent the deportation of conscientious objectors back to Belarus and grant asylum in Lithuania where they have been seeking protection.

Belarusian conscientious objector Vitali Dvarashyn, as other Belarusian asylum seekers in Lithuania, has been declared “a threat to national security in Lithuania” in 2023 after seven years of residence permit in the country. He consequently suffered solitary confinement in a refugee camp and has been denied asylum on May 29, 2024 with the claim that he would not be in danger in Belarus. On June 13, 2024 he escaped his arrest and the risk of immediate deportation and went into hiding out of terror and fear.

Belarusian deserter Mikita Sviryd has been denied asylum on November 20, 2023 and although he appealed, as Vitali did, he was not allowed to present in a hearing his case which is of serious concern because of the reintroduction of the death penalty in Belarus. He is thus desperately looking for ways to protect his life.

We urge the Lithuanian Authorities to prevent the deportation of Vitali Davarshyn and Mikita Svyrid -and any other deserter, draft evader and refuser- to Belarus by all means and to provide adequate protection to them.

As reported by the UN Special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, Ms. Anaïs Marin, at the last UN Human Rights Council, the situation of human rights in Belarus is very alarming and thus is not a safe country for conscientious objectors, deserters, and war resisters.

The UN Special rapporteur has also highlighted that “the Government [of Belarus] continues to actively support the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine”.

We are alarmed that such information is not taken in account by the Lithuanian authorities which uphold the conviction that it is safe for deserters and conscientious objectors to return to Belarus. “This is not true”, explains Olga Karatch from the International Centre for Civil Initiatives Our House (Nash Dom), “Vitali Dvarashyn and Mikita Svyrid face persecution and imprisonment if they are forcibl returned to Belarus. For deserters like Mikita, even the death penalty is legal. This has to be prevented by all means.”

Additionally, we are deeply concerned to read that the Lithuanian Migration Department does not consider relevant the reporting from the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Belarus.

The criminal liability for evading military conscription, the continuous violations of the human right to conscientious objection to military service, and the reintroduction of the death penalty for deserters, are strong evidence that Belarus is not a safe country for conscientious objectors.

The undersigned organizations, therefore, call on Lithuania to immediately prevent the deportation of Belarusian deserters and conscientious objectors and to provide adequate protection to them.

As highlighted in the UNHCR Guidelines on International protection, conscientious objectors to military service are eligible for refugee status if they are at risk of persecution in their own country and this fully apply to Belarusian conscientious objectors.

The right to conscientious objection to military service is a human right inherent to the human right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion (also present in the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights, Article 10 – Freedom of thought, conscience, and religion). It is also worth reminding that in Belarus there is a high risk of recruitment and mobilization in support of the war of aggression of the Russian Federation in Ukraine which constitutes a violation of international law.

The undersigned organizations urge Lithuania and the other members of the European Union to provide full protection to conscientious objectors and deserters who flee from Belarus where they are persecuted and their right to conscientious objection is not recognized, and call on the European institutions to ensure the full implementation of the right to conscientious objection to military service in all its member states.

For additional details on the individual cases mentioned:

Vitali Dvarashyn: https://news.house/de/62206

Mikita Sviryd: https://news.house/62216

For more information and interviews please contact:

Olga Karach, head of the International Center for Civil Initiatives Our House: olga.karatch@gmail.com

Signatory organizations:

• Our House

• Connection e.V.

• European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO)

• International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR)

• War Resisters’ International (WRI)

• Arbeitsstelle Frieden und Umwelt der Evangelischen Kirche der Pfalz (Protestantische

Landeskirche) – Germany

• Aseistakieltäytyjäliitto - The Finnish Union of Conscientious Objectors (AKL) – Finland

• Association of Greek Conscientious Objectors – Greece

• Begegnungszentrum für adktive Gewaltlosigkeit – Austria

• Belgian Coalition Stop depleted uranium weapons – Belgium

• BOCS Civilization Planning Foundation – Hungary

• Center for Global Nonkilling – Switzerland

• Center on Conscience & War – USA

• Centre pour l'Action Non-violente – Switzerland

• Centro Studi Sereno Regis – Italy

• Conscientious Objection Watch – Turkey

• Deutsche Friedensgesellschaft - Vereinigte KriegsdienstgegnerInnen (DFG-VK) –

Germany

• Flüchtlingsrat Schleswig-Holstein e.V. – Germany

• Forum gewerkschaftliche Linke Berlin – Germany

• Giuristi Democratici – Italy

• Internationale der Kriegsdienstgegner*innen (IDK) – Germany

• Internationaler Versöhnungsbund, österreichischer Zweig – Austria

• Kerk en Vrede – The Netherlands

• Komitee für Grundrechte und Demokratie e.V. – Germany

• Leuven Peace Movement – Belgium

• Mouvement international de la Réconciliation – France

• Movimento Internazionale della Riconciliazione – Italy

• Pax Christi Flanders – Belgium

• Peace Tax International (CPTI) – UK

• Pressenza International

• Sudanese Organization for Nonviolence and Development (SONAD) – Sudan

• Un Ponte Per – Italy

• Vrede vzw – Belgium

• Vredesactie – Belgium

Les objecteurs de conscience Vitali Dvarashyn et Mikita Sviryd

sont menacés d'expulsion vers la Biélorussie par la Lituanie

Les organisations soussignées sont sincèrement préoccupées par la menace des autorités lituaniennes d'expulser immédiatement l'objecteur de conscience biélorusse Vitali Dvarashyn et le déserteur Mikita Sviryd vers la Biélorussie où ils risquent d'être persécutés, emprisonnés et condamnés à la peine de mort. Nous demandons aux autorités lituaniennes d'agir immédiatement pour empêcher l'expulsion des objecteurs de conscience vers la Biélorussie et de leur accorder l'asile en Lituanie, où ils ont cherché protection.

L'objecteur de conscience biélorusse Vitali Dvarashyn, comme d'autres demandeurs d'asile biélorusses en Lituanie, a été déclaré « menace pour la sécurité nationale en Lituanie » en 2023 alors qu’il a reçu un permis de séjour de 7 ans dans le pays. Il a donc été placé en isolement dans un camp de réfugiés et s'est vu refuser l'asile le 29 mai 2024 au motif qu'il ne serait pas en danger en Biélorussie. Le 13 juin 2024, pour échapper à une éventuelle arrestation et au risque d'expulsion immédiate, il s’est caché.

Le déserteur biélorusse Mikita Sviryd s'est vu refuser l'asile le 20 novembre 2023 et bien qu'il ait fait appel, comme Vitali, il n'a pas été autorisé à présenter son cas lors d'une audience, ce qui est très préoccupant en raison de la réintroduction de la peine de mort en Biélorussie. Il cherche donc désespérément des moyens de protéger sa vie.

Nous demandons instamment aux autorités lituaniennes d'empêcher par tous les moyens l'expulsion de Vitali Davarshyn et de Mikita Svyrid - et de tout autre déserteur, évadé et réfractaire - vers la Biélorussie, et de leur fournir une protection adéquate.

Comme l'a indiqué le rapporteur spécial des Nations unies sur la situation des droits de l'homme en Biélorussie, Mme Anaïs Marin, lors du dernier Conseil des droits de l'homme des Nations unies, la situation des droits de l'homme en Biélorussie est très alarmante et ce pays n'est donc pas sûr pour les objecteurs de conscience, les déserteurs et les résistants à la guerre. 

Le rapporteur spécial des Nations unies a également souligné que « le gouvernement [de Biélorussie] continue de soutenir activement l'agression militaire de la Fédération de Russie contre l'Ukraine ».

Nous sommes alarmés par le fait que ces informations ne sont pas prises en compte par les autorités lituaniennes, qui restent convaincues que les déserteurs et les objecteurs de conscience peuvent retourner en Biélorussie en toute sécurité. « Ce n'est pas vrai », explique Olga Karatch du Centre international d'initiatives civiles Our House (Nash Dom), Vitali Dvarashyn et Mikita Svyrid risquent d'être persécutés et emprisonnés s'ils sont renvoyés de force en Biélorussie. Pour les déserteurs comme Mikita, la peine de mort est même légale. Il faut empêcher cela par tous les moyens. »

En outre, nous sommes profondément inquiets de lire que le département lituanien des migrations ne considère pas comme pertinent le rapport du Haut Commissariat des Nations Unies aux droits de l'homme sur la situation des droits de l'homme en Biélorussie.

Les peines prévues pour s'être soustrait à la conscription militaire, les violations continues du droit à l'objection de conscience au service militaire et la réintroduction de la peine de mort pour les déserteurs sont autant de preuves que la Biélorussie n'est pas un pays sûr pour les objecteurs de conscience.

Les organisations soussignées appellent donc la Lituanie à empêcher immédiatement l'expulsion des déserteurs et objecteurs de conscience biélorusses et à leur fournir une protection adéquate.

Comme le soulignent les principes directeurs du HCR sur la protection internationale, les objecteurs de conscience au service militaire peuvent prétendre au statut de réfugié s'ils risquent d'être persécutés dans leur propre pays, ce qui s'applique pleinement aux objecteurs de conscience biélorusses.

Le droit à l'objection de conscience au service militaire est un droit de l'homme inhérent au droit à la liberté de pensée, de conscience et de religion (également présent dans la Charte des droits fondamentaux de l'Union européenne, article 10 - Liberté de pensée, de conscience et de religion). Il convient également de rappeler qu'il existe en Biélorussie un risque élevé de recrutement et de mobilisation en faveur de la guerre d'agression de la Fédération de Russie en Ukraine, ce qui constitue une violation du droit international.

Les organisations soussignées demandent instamment à la Lituanie et aux autres membres de l'Union européenne de fournir une protection totale aux objecteurs de conscience et aux déserteurs qui fuient la Biélorussie où ils sont persécutés et où leur droit à l'objection de conscience n'est pas reconnu, et appellent les institutions européennes à garantir la pleine mise en œuvre du droit à l'objection de conscience au service militaire dans tous ses États membres.

Pour plus de détails sur les cas individuels mentionnés :

Vitali Dvarashyn: https://news.house/de/62206

Mikita Sviryd: https://news.house/62216

For more information and interviews please contact:

Olga Karach, directrice de l’International Center for Civil Initiatives Our House: olga.karatch@gmail.com

Signatory organizations:

• Our House

• Connection e.V.

• European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO)

• International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR)

• War Resisters’ International (WRI)

• Arbeitsstelle Frieden und Umwelt der Evangelischen Kirche der Pfalz (Protestantische

Landeskirche) – Allemagne

• Aseistakieltäytyjäliitto - The Finnish Union of Conscientious Objectors (AKL) – Finlande

• Association of Greek Conscientious Objectors – Grèce

• Begegnungszentrum für adktive Gewaltlosigkeit – Autriche

• Belgian Coalition Stop depleted uranium weapons – Belgique

• BOCS Civilization Planning Foundation – Hongrie

• Center for Global Nonkilling – Suisse

• Center on Conscience & War – États-Unis

• Centre pour l'Action Non-violente – Suisse

• Centro Studi Sereno Regis – Italie

• Conscientious Objection Watch – Turquie

• Deutsche Friedensgesellschaft - Vereinigte KriegsdienstgegnerInnen (DFG-VK) –

Allemagne

• Flüchtlingsrat Schleswig-Holstein e.V. – Allemagne

• Forum gewerkschaftliche Linke Berlin – Allemagne

• Giuristi Democratici – Italie

• Internationale der Kriegsdienstgegner*innen (IDK) – Allemagne

• Internationaler Versöhnungsbund, österreichischer Zweig – Autriche

• Kerk en Vrede – Pays-Bas

• Komitee für Grundrechte und Demokratie e.V. – Allemagne

• Leuven Peace Movement – Belgique

• Mouvement international de la Réconciliation – France

• Movimento Internazionale della Riconciliazione – Italie

• Pax Christi Flanders – Belgique

• Peace Tax International (CPTI) – Royauma-Uni

• Pressenza International

• Sudanese Organization for Nonviolence and Development (SONAD) – Soudan

• Un Ponte Per – Italie

• Vrede vzw – Belgique

• Vredesactie – Belgique

Support to Peace Activist Olga Karatch Sentenced to Prison in Belarus

French below

Joint Press Release

Peace Activist Olga Karatch Was Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison Due to Her Human Rights Activities

Belarus must stop prosecuting peace activists and conscientious objectors! 

The European Bureau for Conscientious Objection, War Resisters’ International (WRI), the International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR), and Connection e.V.  condemn the 12-year prison sentence and a fine of 170,000 Euros imposed on EBCO board member Olga Karatch in her recent trial in Belarus. 

On July 8, 2024, Brest Regional Court announced the verdict in the case of human rights defender Olga Karach, head of the International Center for civil initiatives “Our House” (Nash Dom). Olga Karatch is accused of “conspiracy to seize power by unconstitutional means“ (part 1 of Article 357 of the Belarusian Criminal Code); "promotion of extremist activity" (part 1 and part 2 of Article 361-4 of the Belarusian Criminal Code); "discrediting the Republic of Belarus" (Article 369-1 of the Criminal Code). Together with her, Veranika Tsepkala, Yauhen Vilski, Anatoli Kotau and Vadzim Dzmitrenak received 12 years in prison each and fines.

The decision announced on July 8 in the Brest Regional Court creates an extremely worrying situation for the security of Olga Karatch and her organization International Center for Civil Initiatives "Our House" (Nash Dom), which supports war resisters and conscientious objectors in Belarus as part of the #ObjectWarCampaign network. This decision of the court reinforces the threat to the security of peace activists and human rights defenders in Belarus. This concerning situation has also been highlighted last week by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus, during her report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. 

Karatch, through her organization 'Our House', carries out numerous activities defending human rights and advocating the right to conscientious objection to military service in Belarus. She is also supporting Belarusian citizens who have fled to other countries to avoid military service in Belarus and possible military activities in support of the illegal Russian aggression to Ukraine. Because of these activities she has been subject to multiple prosecutions and even the risk of deportation from Lithuania where she is currently seeking protection. Apart from the decision announced on July 8, she is also waiting for the decisions in other two cases in which she is tried. Karach stated that she expects death penalty or 25 years in prison in one of these cases. This clearly shows the risks that Belarusian human rights defenders are exposed to. 

Olga Karatch is being threatened, tried and punished for her peace work and it is simply unacceptable! The European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO), War Resisters’ International (WRI), the International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR), and Connection e.V. stand in solidarity with the human rights defender Olga Karatch and will continue to follow her case closely. 

9 July 2024

Press release of "Our House" Nash Dom, WHRD Olga Karatch sentenced to 12 years in prison in absentia in Belarus : https://news.house/62484

For more information and interviews please contact: 
Olga Karach, Olga Karatch, head of the International Center for civil initiatives “Our House”,  olga.karatch@gmail.com

Communiqué de presse

La militante pour la paix Olga Karatch condamnée à 12 ans de prison en Biélorussie pour ses actions en faveur des droits de l’Homme

La Biélorussie doit cesser de poursuivre les militants pour la paix et les objecteurs de conscience !

   Le Bureau européen de l’objection de conscience (BEOC), l’Internationale des Résistant(e)s à la Guerre (WRI), le Mouvement international de la réconciliation (IFOR) et Connection e.V. condamnent la peine de 12 ans de prison ainsi que d’une amende de 170 000 euros infligées à Olga Karach, membre du conseil d'administration de l'EBCO, lors de son récent procès en Biélorussie.

Le 8 juillet 2024, le tribunal de grande instance de Brest a annoncé le verdict dans l'affaire de la défenseuse des droits humains Olga Karatch, directrice du Centre international d’initiatives civiles "Our House" (Nash Dom). Olga Karach est accusée de "conspiration en vue de la prise de pouvoir par des moyens inconstitutionnels" (partie 1 de l'article 357 du code pénal biélorusse) ; "promotion d'activités extrémistes" (partie 1 et partie 2 de l'article 361-4 du code pénal biélorusse) ; "discrédit de la République de Biélorussie" (article 369-1 du code pénal). Veranika Tsepkala, Yauhen Vilski, Anatoli Kotau et Vadzim Dzmitrenak ont été condamnés à 12 ans de prison chacun ainsi qu’à des amendes.

La décision annoncée le 8 juillet par tribunal de grande instance de Brest constitue une situation extrêmement préoccupante pour la sécurité d'Olga Karatch tout comme pour celle de son organisation International Center for Civil Initiatives "Our House" (Nash Dom), qui, dans le cadre du réseau #ObjectWarCampaign, soutient les résistants de guerre et les objecteurs de conscience en Biélorussie. Cette décision du tribunal renforce la menace qui pèse sur la sécurité des militant.e.s pacifistes et des défenseuses et défenseurs des droits humains en Biélorussie. Cette préoccupante situation a également été soulignée la semaine dernière par le rapporteur spécial des Nations unies sur l’état des droits humains en Biélorussie lors de son rapport au Conseil des droits de l'homme des Nations unies à Genève.

Olga Karatch, par l'intermédiaire de son organisation "Our House", exerce en Biélorussie un grand nombre d’actions de défense des droits humains et du droit à l'objection de conscience au service militaire. Elle soutient également les citoyens biélorusses qui se sont réfugiés dans d'autres pays pour éviter le service militaire en Biélorussie tout comme d'éventuelles activités militaires en soutien à l'agression illégale de la Russie contre l'Ukraine. En raison de ces activités, elle a fait l'objet de multiples poursuites et risque même d'être expulsée de Lituanie, pays dans lequel elle demande actuellement protection. Outre la décision annoncée le 8 juillet, elle attend également les décisions dans les deux autres affaires dans lesquelles elle est jugée. Olga Karatch a déclaré qu'elle s'attendait à la peine de mort ou à 25 ans d’emprisonnement dans l'une de ces affaires. Ceci témoigne clairement des risques auxquels sont exposés les défenseuses et défenseurs des droits de humains biélorusses.

Olga Karatch se voit menacée, jugée et punie pour son travail en faveur de la paix ce qui est tout simplement inacceptable !

Le Bureau européen pour l'objection de conscience (EBCO), War Resisters' International (WRI), le Mouvement international de la réconciliation (IFOR) et Connection e.V. se déclarent solidaires de la défenseuse des droits humains Olga Karatch et continueront à suivre son cas de près.

Plus d’informations :

Communiqué de presse de "Our House" Nash Dom, WHRD Olga Karatch condamnée à 12 ans de prison par contumace en Biélorussie : https://news.house/62484

Pour plus d’information et interviewss, veuillez contacter :

Olga Karatch, directrice du Centre international pour les initiatives civiles "Our House” : olga.karatch@gmail.com