MAY 15th, INTERNATIONAL CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION DAY

#CODay2020

#ConscientiousObjection has been at the core of IFOR original engagement for a culture of peace ever since 1914 and constitutes the roots of the fellowship together with nonviolence and reconciliation.

 #ObjectionDeConscience a été au cœur de l'engagement original de l'IFOR pour une culture de la paix depuis 1914 et constitue les racines de la fellowship avec la non-violence et la réconciliation.

#ObjeciónDeConciencia ha sido el núcleo del empeño original de IFOR por una cultura de paz desde 1914 y constituye las raíces de la fellowship junto con la nonviolencia y la reconciliación.

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The Right to Conscientious Objection is not yet recognized in all countries and wherever it is, its implementation is not always meeting international standards. There are therefore conscientious objectors whose rights are violated in different ways and countries’ situation to report about. It is vital to uphold conscientious objectors around the world and to promote the recognition and implementation of the right to conscientious objection.

One critical contribution that the International Fellowship of Reconciliation - IFOR makes is that it maintains a permanent representation at the United Nations in Geneva which focuses primarily on conscientious objection to military service. IFOR is supported on this particular work by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust and coordinates closely with War Resisters' International, the Quaker United Nations Office in Geneva, the EBCO - European Bureau for Conscientious Objection and others.  

Here you can find a Q&A on conscientious objection to provide some general information on the subject and to encourage an ongoing conversation on this right and its implementation.  

Below you can find a list of video-testimonies from objectors, which are part of an online action organized by War Resisters’ International office, together with Connection e.V.:

“Refuse to Kill: Video collection for International Conscientious Objection Day”

· Armin Lauven, Pax Christi, Germany: Active for conscientious objectors and deserters worldwide - https://youtu.be/RlB9GzmYC10

· Beran İşçi, Turkey/Germany: My asylum case as conscientious objector is regarded as non-political - https://youtu.be/nNL0p4Bvxec

· Berndt Püschel and Heiko Marx, Germany: International Deserters’ Network goes to the Sky – https://youtu.be/_-oLsKVtnq

· Bob Meola, U.S.: Resistance to the draft to the Vietnam war was an ultimate stand to say No - https://youtu.be/PH0qBezU76M

· Connection e.V., Germany: Conscientious Objectors and Deserters Need Asylum - https://youtu.be/HNFWg9fY44I

· Dustin Hausner, U.S., New York: We need to support people who do not want to commit atrocities - https://youtu.be/fGICgtA5nmY

· Daniel Rezene, Eritrea/Switzerland: Recognize conscientious objection as a ground for asylum - https://youtu.be/LFcabVebPb8

· Deutsche Welle / +90, Turkey: Being a Conscientious Objector
- https://youtu.be/vLkw9hOf7zE

· EBCO in Peace House, Brussels, contributions from various countries: Spot on Conscientious Objection - https://youtu.be/WVw3aULFiqI

· EBCO/Movimento Nonviolento, contributions from various countries: Military Distancing Spot - https://youtu.be/SHdM6vFG3uU

· Emanuel Matondo, Angola/Germany: I knew that war is a crime and then I refused the military service - https://youtu.be/Ahz6Joruxz4

· Ercan Aktaş, Turkey/France: I came to France in October 2017 and never returned - https://youtu.be/KWX7KIMV0u4

· Gunter Schmidt, painter, Germany: I always wished, war was finally dead - https://youtu.be/gdY0mnM957w

· Halil Savda, Turkey/Cyprus: I dream of a nonviolent and free world
- https://youtu.be/t3OSFQwSjJ8

· Heinz Bartjes, Germany: Conscientious Objectors were seen as wimps and sissies - https://youtu.be/JWASZIL1SiU

· Helen Kidan, Eritrea/United Kingdom: People are fleeing indefinite military service in Eritrea - https://youtu.be/cyMK822yJxU

· Hüseyin Civan, Turkey: I reject conscription and war as an antimilitarist and anarchist - https://youtu.be/oTNzwCZgYMg

· IDK, Germany: Views on our work
- https://youtu.be/6ijTOVQ_Xb0

· La Tulpa, Colombia: The antimilitarist collective speaks about militarization and patriarchal society - https://youtu.be/xMz0o5Z9emw

· Lewis M. Randa, U.S.: Conscientious objection is a code word for love, for sanity, for being human - https://youtu.be/pbJ152U3nHY

· Marcela Paz and Rocio Elisabeth, Chile: We want a world without war, without borders and without violence - https://youtu.be/9YrDPsp9L-A

· Mertcan Güler and his Boss, Turkey/Germany: We both reject to go to army - https://youtu.be/GsaeZCmOo1g

· Merve Arkun, Turkey: Conscientious is an anti-war action for women and the rejection of male-dominated codes
- https://youtu.be/a_pm5cQ5tjg

· Nuri Silay, Cyprus: Wherever in the world we call everyone to refuse to be part of the military- https://youtu.be/YYVSN6lgCIY

· Pedro Polo, Spain: We are not soldiers, we are queers
- https://youtu.be/33E3qxawdmI

Links to conscientious objection initiatives which took place on #CODay2020:

• WRI and other organizations 
  https://wri-irg.org/en/story/2020/coday-2020-showing-solidarity-conscientious-objectors-everywhere 

• BEOC campaign #MilitaryDistancing 
  https://www.ebco-beoc.org/node/465  

• Peace Pledge Union initiative, together with FoR England and Scotland and others 
  https://www.ppu.org.uk/international-conscientious-objectors-day 

• Vicdani Ret Derneği, Turkish member of BEOC, (video subtitled in English) 
  https://vicdaniret.org/vr-der-savassiz-bir-dunya-hayal-etmeye-devam-ediyor-ve-herkesi-bu-hayali-gercek-kilmaya-cagiriyoruz/  

Additional thematic info:

• “The Men Who Said No” Peace Pledge Union's project. 
  https://menwhosaidno.org/men/names_intro.html 

• EBCO's annuale Report on conscientious objection. 
  https://ebco-beoc.org/sites/ebco-beoc.org/files/attachments/2020-02-14-EBCO%20_Annual_Report_2019.pdf