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Conscientious Objection

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IFOR meets with Peace Comunity reps in Geneva / IFOR rencontre les représentants de la Communauté de Paix à Genève / IFOR recibe a los representantes de la Comunidad de la Paz en Ginebra

#nonviolence #HumanRights #PeaceCommunity

International Fellowship of Reconciliation - IFOR had the privilege to welcome to its office in Geneva on Monday October 10th -at the Ecumenical Center- two representatives of the Comunidad de Paz San José de Apartadó.

The Peace Community is a great 25 yrs outstanding practice of nonviolent resistance in a highly violent context.

Accompanied by the former director of Red Internacional de Derechos Humanos, IFOR's guests presented the ongoing concerning situation that the Peace Community faces on a daily basis in #Colombia.

The meeting has been an opportunity for further planning on solidarity actions in continuity with IFOR supporting initiatives.

IFOR has also shared this visiting opportunity with other partner organizations in Geneva such as Associazione Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII.

IFOR's Main Representative, Zaira Zafarana, with the visiting guests of the CdP, Sayda Arteaga Guerra and Roviro Lopez Rivera and RIDHI Ramon Munoz in IFOR office.

Ecumenical Center in Geneva, headquarter of World Council of Churches, where the IFOR office is located in Geneva

IFOR's guests together with the Main representative of Associazione Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII at the UN.

#non-violence #droits de l'homme #communauté de paix
Le Mouvement International de la Réconciliation - MIR a eu le privilège d'accueillir dans ses bureaux à Genève le lundi 10 octobre - au Centre Oecuménique - deux représentants de la Comunidad de Paz San José de Apartadó.
Accompagnés de l'ancien directeur de Red Internacional de Derechos Humanos, les invités d'IFOR ont présenté la situation préoccupante à laquelle la Communauté de Paix doit faire face quotidiennement en Colombie.
La réunion a été l'occasion de planifier des actions de solidarité dans la continuité des initiatives soutenues par IFOR.
L'IFOR a également partagé cette opportunité de visite avec d'autres organisations partenaires à Genève, comme l'Associazione Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII.

Zaira Zafarana, représentante principale d'IFOR, avec les invités du CdP, Sayda Arteaga Guerra et Roviro Lopez Rivera et RIDHI Ramon Munoz dans les bureaux d'IFOR.

Centre oecuménique de Genève, siège du Conseil oecuménique des Eglises, où se trouve le bureau d'IFOR à Genève.

Les invités d'IFOR avec le représentant principal de l'Associazione Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII à l'ONU.

#noviolencia #DerechosHumanos #ComunidadDePaz
International Fellowship of Reconciliation - IFOR tuvo el privilegio de recibir en su oficina de Ginebra el lunes 10 de octubre -en el Centro Ecuménico- a dos representantes de la Comunidad de Paz San José de Apartadó.
La Comunidad de Paz es una gran práctica de 25 años de resistencia no violenta en un contexto altamente violento.
Acompañados por el ex director de la Red Internacional de Derechos Humanos, los invitados de IFOR expusieron la preocupante situación que la Comunidad de Paz enfrenta cada día en #Colombia.
El encuentro ha sido una oportunidad para seguir planificando acciones de solidaridad en continuidad con las iniciativas de apoyo de IFOR.
IFOR también ha compartido esta oportunidad de visita con otras organizaciones asociadas en Ginebra como la Associazione Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII.

La Representante Principal de IFOR, Zaira Zafarana, con los invitados de la CdP, Sayda Arteaga Guerra y Roviro Lopez Rivera y RIDHI Ramon Munoz en la oficina de IFOR.

Centro Ecuménico de Ginebra, sede del Consejo Mundial de Iglesias, donde se encuentra la oficina de IFOR en Ginebra

Los invitados de IFOR junto con el representante principal de la Associazione Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII en la ONU.

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IFOR briefs the UN Human Rights Committee on the right to conscientious objection in Russia.

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IFOR briefs the UN Human Rights Committee on the right to conscientious objection in Russia.

On October 17th the International Fellowship of Reconciliation participated in the formal briefing at the 136th session of the UN Human Rights Committee.

During the ongoing session, after two postponements, the members of the Committee will review the Russian Federation and formulate Concluding Observations.

Members of the Civil Society have been invited to submit reports in advance and to participate in briefing meetings with the Committee to provide useful information.

IFOR took advantage of the 4 minutes speaking opportunity to report on illegal recruitment, cruel treatment of refusers to combat operations in Ukraine, human rights violations of those protesting against the war and other related issues.

Read the complete text of IFOR's statement here, with in-depth notes.

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IFOR speaks at the UN on conscientious objection violations and peacebuilding efforts in Ukraine

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IFOR speaks at the UN on conscientious objection violations and peacebuilding efforts in Ukraine

During the 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council, the Director of Division of the OHCHR gave an oral update on the current situation in Ukraine during the interactive dialogue under item 10.

International Fellowship of Reconciliation participated in the dialogue in the plenary and addressed the violation of the right to conscientious objection to military service in Ukraine, freedom of movement and the alarming forced conscription in the occupied territory and the recent partial mobilization announced in the Russian federation.

IFOR Main representative to the UN, Zaira Zafarana, delivering the statement during the 51st session of the UN HUman Rights Council.

In its statement, IFOR has also expressed its solidarity to the victims and its support to all war resisters -calling for asylum for conscientious objectors who refuse to engage in the war at their personal risk and those who pursue nonviolent means to peace-building. The speech mentioned civil society peace initiatives to support local nonviolent action such as the Stop The War Now launched by Associazione Papa Giovanni XXIII together with many other Italian NGOs, including MIR Italy - Italian branch of IFOR.

Human Rights Council, 51st Session 

4th October 2022 

ID Item 4: Oral update of the High Commissioner on Ukraine 

Oral statement delivered by the International Fellowship of Reconciliation. 

Mr. President,  

International Fellowship of Reconciliation thanks the Office of the High Commissioner for the oral update. We stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine who are suffering for the ongoing war which is causing tragedies and violations and an inhumane nuclear threat. 

We stand in solidarity with those who courageously refuse to kill and call on the international community to ensure full legal guarantees of their human right to conscientious objection and to provide them protection and asylum1. The right to conscientious objection to military service should be absolutely protected and cannot be restricted, as highlighted in the last OHCHR quadrennial thematic report [presented at the last session].

We are alarmed by the current suspension of the right to conscientious objection in Ukraine, the consequent detention sentences and the travel ban for all men aged 18-60. We have been informed of repression of students protests against the prohibition to study abroad. 

IFOR is also deeply concerned by the forced mobilization in Ukrainian occupied territories and by the new mobilization measures issued by the Russian Federation, which include imprisonment for those who refuse to enlist.  

IFOR gives voice to all those who are non-violently resisting war and acknowledge the efforts of the many who support reconciliation and peace building efforts. For instance, Stop The War Now has just concluded its 4th peace caravan to Ukraine, bringing in humanitarian aid and also support to ongoing local civil society peace initiatives. 

UN Member States should urgently pursue the way to peace negotiations and facilitate such a path, which is within the United Nations purposes. 

Thank you. 

Click here to watch IFOR main representative to deliver the statement at the UN Human Rights Council.

Click here to read the full statement.

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International peace initiative to support nonviolent action in Ukraine

#STOPTHEWARNOW is a network of over 175 Italian organizations committed to peace building and international solidarity through non-violent peace and humanitarian actions. The network was created to launch a message of solidarity and opposition to the conflict in Ukraine and to build together an alternative to the madness of war. It is coordinated by a steering committee made up of the Pope John XXIII Community, Pro Civitate Christiana and the national networks Focsiv, Aoi, the Italian Peace and Disarmament Network, Libera against mafias, representing all the member associations. At the moment #STOPTHEWARNOW is in Ukraine with two permanent presences, one in Lviv and one in Odessa.
Between 1 and 3 April #STOPTHEWARNOW organized the 1st Peace Caravan, which set off from Italy with representatives of non-violent and pacifist civil society, to witness, through its presence in Lviv, Ukraine, the will to build a dialogue of peace through non-violent actions.
The 4th Peace Caravan was aimed to:
- Laying the foundations for partnership agreements between Italian members of the campaign #StopTheWarNow and Ukrainian civil society organizations (including trade unions) committed to Peace building, conscientious objection and non-violent resistance; possible youth exchanges with universities and Youth Centers;
- Relaunching the campaign of solidarity with conscientious objectors under investigation/protest by the General Prosecutor's Office in Ukraine, such as the journalist Ruslan Kotsaba, accused of high treason for spreading calls to boycott the war.

Learn more about Stop the war now.

-section under update-

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IFOR calls on the UN to stop the war in Ukraine and restates that the right to conscientious objection cannot be restricted nor suspended.

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IFOR calls on the UN to stop the war in Ukraine and restates that the right to conscientious objection cannot be restricted nor suspended.

Members of the Commission of Inquiry. President E. Mose, Ms. P. De Greiff and Madam j. Dzumhur.

On the occasion of the 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council, as previously decided by the Members States (A/HRC/RES/49/1 and A/HRC/RES/S-34/1) the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the situation of human rights in Ukraine stemming from the Russian aggression presented its oral update in the plenary.

After the presentation and the following statements by Member States and National Human Rights Institutions, NGOs had the opportunity to take the floor.

IFOR, thus, delivered an oral statement calling on the UN Member States to act to stop the war and save lives and addressed the issue of the violation of the right to conscientious objection to military service, restating its support to all those who refuse to kill.

IFOR recalled as well international standards on the non-derogability of the right to conscientious objection and expressed its concern for the current suspension of this right in Ukraine and its violation in the occupied territories.

Human Rights Council, 51st Session 

23rd September 2022 

Item 4: Interactive dialogue with the International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine Oral statement delivered by the International Fellowship of Reconciliation. 

Mr. President,  

War should be abolished because it is never a conflict resolution, neither in Ukraine nor in other countries. On the contrary, it brings devastating and dramatic consequences on the people and on the land. 

Excellencies, colleagues, we are here today addressing violations directly connected to the ongoing war. 

The victims are waiting for action. [As we head yesterday during the ID with the SR on Myanmar, concerning another violent conflict, actions speak louder than words.] 

In resolution (A/HRC/S-34/L.1) the Human Rights Council reiterated its demand for an immediate end of military hostilities against Ukraine, and for all parties to the conflict to respect the fundamental principles and rules of international humanitarian law 

We stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and mourn with them. We also stand in solidarity with those opposing to war and refusing to kill. 

We have been notified that the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense replied to the Ukrainian Pacifist Movement that "Due to martial law, since 24.02.2022 the temporary military service in Ukraine is no longer implemented. Therefore, the implementation of alternative service is not applicable."

The UN Human Rights Committee has clearly stated that the right to conscientious objection cannot be restricted for reasons of national security.

IFOR is also concerned by the forced mobilization of conscripts in Ukrainian territory controlled by Russian  affiliated armed groups. 

Freedom of thought, conscience and religion is a non-derogable right and, as is freedom of expression, it continues to apply in situations of armed conflict. The right to conscientious objection to military service should be absolutely protected and cannot be restricted, as highlighted by the quadrennial analytical thematic report by OHCHR presented at the 50th session. 

Thank you. 

Click here to watch IFOR main representative to deliver the statement at the UN Human Rights Council.

Click here to read the full statement.

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Insights concerning the UN Human Rights Council on the ongoing war in Ukraine


- Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 4 March 2022.

During the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council, the Council "Decides to urgently establish an independent international commission of inquiry, comprising three human rights experts, to be appointed by the President of the Human Rights Council for an initial duration of one year, complementing, consolidating and building upon the work of the human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine, in close coordination with the human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, with the following mandate: (a) To investigate all alleged violations and abuses of human rights and violations of international humanitarian law, and related crimes in the context of the aggression against Ukraine by the Russian Federation, and to establish the facts, circumstances and root causes of any such violations and abuses; (b) To collect, consolidate and analyse evidence of such violations and abuses, including their gender dimension, and to systematically record and preserve all information, documentation and evidence, including interviews, witness testimony and forensic material, consistent with international law standards, in view of any future legal proceedings; (c) To document and verify relevant information and evidence, including through field engagement, and to cooperate with judicial and other entities, as appropriate; A/HRC/RES/49/1 4 (d) To identify, where possible, those individuals and entities responsible for violations or abuses of human rights or violations of international humanitarian law, or other related crimes, in Ukraine, with a view to ensuring that those responsible are held accountable; (e) To make recommendations, in particular on accountability measures, all with a view to ending impunity and ensuring accountability, including, as appropriate, individual criminal responsibility, and access to justice for victims; (f) To provide the Human Rights Council, at its fifty-first session, with an oral update, to be followed by an interactive dialogue, and a comprehensive written report at its fifty-second session, to be followed by an interactive dialogue, and to submit a report to the General Assembly at its seventy-seventh session"

Learn more about Resolution A/HRC/RES/49/1 here.


- Resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council on 12 May 2022

During the Special UN Human Rights Council session held in May 2022 the Council adopted a resolution which says that the UN HRC " Reiterates its demand for the immediate cessation of military hostilities against Ukraine and for all parties to the conflict to respect the fundamental principles and rules of international humanitarian law, including to refrain from any attacks against civilians and civilian objects, and to refrain from any human rights violations and abuses in Ukraine; 2. Stresses the need to refrain from any State-sponsored disinformation, propaganda for war or advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, relating to the aggression against Ukraine; 3. Urges the Russian Federation to provide representatives and staff of international human rights and humanitarian institutions, including United Nations specialized agencies, with unhindered, timely, immediate, unrestricted and safe access to A/HRC/RES/S-34/1 3 persons who have been transferred from conflict-affected areas of Ukraine and are held on the territory of the Russian Federation or areas controlled or occupied by the Russian Federation, and to share with relevant parties a comprehensive list of such transferred persons and their whereabouts; 4. Requests the independent international commission of inquiry on Ukraine to conduct an inquiry, consistent with its mandate and international standards, and in coordination with other national and international mechanisms, to address the events in the areas of the Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv and Sumy regions in late February and in March 2022, including their gender dimension, with a view to holding those responsible to account, and also requests the commission to brief the Human Rights Council on the progress of that inquiry as part of the oral update to the Council at its fifty-first session, and to include its findings after the completion of the inquiry in its report to the Council at its fifty-second session; 5. Requests the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights to present an oral update on the grave human rights and humanitarian situation in Mariupol, including an assessment of the nature and causes of violations or abuses of human rights and of violations of international humanitarian law committed there, to the Human Rights Council at its fiftieth session under item 2, to be followed by an interactive dialogue; 6. Encourages relevant thematic special procedure mandate holders, within their respective mandates, to continue to pay particular attention to the situation of human rights in Ukraine stemming from the Russian aggression, and urges all relevant parties to cooperate with those mandate holders; 7. Decides to remain seized of the matter."

Learn more about Resolution A/HRC/RES/S-34/1 here.

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"OBJECT WAR CAMPAIGN" LAUNCH : Petition to support Conscientious Objectors and Deserters from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine

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"OBJECT WAR CAMPAIGN" LAUNCH : Petition to support Conscientious Objectors and Deserters from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine

Traducción Española

Traduction française

PRESS RELEASE

21 September 2022

"OBJECT WAR CAMPAIGN" LAUNCH : Petition to support Conscientious Objectors and Deserters from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine

On the occasion of the International Day of Peace, 21st September, Connection e.V., the International Fellowship of Reconciliation, the European Office for Conscientious Objection and War Resisters' International are calling for a signature campaign for deserters and conscientious objectors from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. The #ObjectWarCampaign calls on all citizens from everywhere to join the global effort to ensure protection and asylum to conscientious objectors and deserters from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine involved in the current war in the region. They are our hope to refuse war and let peace prevail!

On April 6, 2022, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, had called on Russian soldiers to desert and promised them protection under refugee law. So far, this promise has not been fulfilled. 

Within the scope of #ObjectWarCampaign, a petition has been prepared for everyone to sign in. The petition is addressed to the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Council Charles Michel and the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola. The petition emphasizes the need to uphold the right to asylum to conscientious objectors and deserters from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine by hosting states. The petition launched on the WeMove.eu website can now be signed in German, English, French, Italian and Greek.

There are an estimated 100,000 Russian military draftees and deserters refusing the war of aggression. An estimated 22,000 Belarusian military draftees have left their country because they don’t want to participate in the war in Ukraine. Everyone who has refused service risks several years of prosecution because of their stand against the war. They are hoping for protection in various countries.

Ukraine suspended the right to conscientious objection and closed the border for men between 18 and 60. Over 100,000 men have evaded war involvement in Ukraine and fled abroad. Currently, Ukrainian citizens have temporary residence in the European Union. The #ObjectWarCampaign petition demands that the right to conscientious objection to military service is fully guaranteed in Ukraine.

The petition signatures  are a crucial sign of support for conscientious objectors and deserters. This campaign highlights the importance of opening borders to those who oppose the war at great personal risk in their countries, and calls on everyone around the world to support those who refuse to fight and kill.

Every recruit can be a conscientious objector, every soldier a deserter. Let's support those who refuse to kill and end war together! 

#ObjectWarCampaign
#StandWithObjectors

The launch of the petition has been anticipated by an appeal sent in June 2022, to the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe -supported by 60 organizations from 20 countries - detailing why protection and support for deserters and conscientious objectors on all sides of the Ukrainian war is necessary and moreover that it is a human right. There have already been discussions about this in the European Parliament. 

More information: 
The appeal to the European institutions can be found here.
Background information can be found here.

Contact and interview requests:
Zaira Zafarana, International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR), zaira.zafarana@ifor.org, www.ifor.org (English, Italian)
Rudi Friedrich, Connection e.V., +496982375534, office@Connection-eV.org, www.Connection-eV.org (German, English)
Semih Sapmaz, War Resisters’ International (WRI), semih@wri-irg.org, www.wri-irg.org (English,Turkish)
Sam Biesemans, European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO), +32477268893, ebco.brussels@skynet.be, www.ebco-beoc.org (French, Dutch, Italian, English)

📌 Share more on social media at https://www.facebook.com/InternationalFellowshipofReconciliation/photos/a.1751009778444220/3294203917458124/

📌 SIGN IT! https://you.wemove.eu/campaigns/russia-belarus-ukraine-protection-and-asylum-for-deserters-and-conscientious-objectors-to-military-service

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IFOR joins international press release on the case of pacifist journalist Ruslan Kotsaba

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IFOR joins international press release on the case of pacifist journalist Ruslan Kotsaba

JOINT PRESS RELEASE by EBCO, IFOR, WRI and Connection e.V.

Drop all charges against Ruslan Kotsaba

18 July 2022

In Ukraine, a trial against Ukrainian journalist, pacifist and conscientious objector Ruslan Kostaba will be held on Tuesday 19 July 2022, simply because he publicly expressed his pacifist views.

The International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR), War Resisters’ International (WRI), the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) and Connection e.V. (Germany) consider his case a clear politically motivated persecution, in violation of his rights to freedom of expression and freedom of thought, conscience and religion, guaranteed under Articles 18 and 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Articles 9 and 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The organisations express their solidarity with Ruslan Kotsaba and urge the Ukrainian authorities to safeguard that all pacifists in Ukraine, including the activists of the Ukrainian Pacifist Movement, are able to freely express their opinions and continue their nonviolent activities.

The organisations also recall their strong condemnation of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and call on the soldiers not to participate in hostilities and on all recruits to refuse military service.

The Ukrainian government should safeguard the right to conscientious objection to military service, fully complying with the European and international standards, amongst others the standards set by the European Court of Human Rights.

Ukraine is a member of the Council of Europe and needs to continue to respect the European Convention of Human Rights. As Ukraine becomes a candidate to join the European Union, it will need to respect the Human Rights as defined in the EU Treaty, and the jurisprudence of the EU Court of Justice, which include the right of conscientious objection.

You can click here to download the statement as a PDF file.

Click here to watch Ruslan Kotsaba's statement recorded before the Court's hearing.

Contact persons:

Visit and share on Facebook!

UPDATE

Next hearing for Ruslan Kotsaba's case is scheduled for September 4th 2022.

Here you can find a video message he recorded before His last hearing.
You can find more information here.

CALL TO ACTION!

International solidarity is very important.

There are several things which can be done, for instance:
- organize a public presence in front of the Ukrainian embassy with signs and then share pictures and/or release about it
- engage with politicians in your country to support Ruslan Kotsaba
- engage with media in your country to cover Ruslan's case
- send the published appeal or your own note to Honourable Andriy Kostin, Prosecutor General of Ukraine,
Riznytska St, 13/15
Kyiv 01011
Ukraine
- share on social media and use hashtag #ConscientiousObjection #FreedomExpression; tag on Fb @peaceukraine (Ukrainian Pacifist Movement)

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IFOR submits to the UN UPR reports on the right to conscientious objection to military service in the Republic of Korea and Switzerland

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IFOR submits to the UN UPR reports on the right to conscientious objection to military service in the Republic of Korea and Switzerland

IFOR has prepared and submitted to the UN two reports for the upcoming 42nd session of the Universal Periodic Review of the Republic of Korea and Switzerland. The formal session will take place at the beginning of 2023.

The Republic of Korea has a long-standing history of discrimination and violations of human rights of conscientious objectors. It has been noted as a country with an high level of inprisoned conscientious objectors.

In the recent years there has been a significative legislative development with the introduction by law of an alternative service which, unfortunately, in practice remain punitive and discriminatory. Korean conscientious objectors, indeed, serve a 36 months alternative service in prison or other correctional facilities and some are still sentenced to prison.

Other issues of concern are the lack of independence and impartiality of the body examining applications for conscientious objector status and the lack of effective remedies to victims of violations.

IFOR has include as well in its report suggested recommendation to be addressed to the Republic of Korea to respect and fully implement the human rights of conscientious objectors.

In the past cycle of the Universal Periodic Review, the Republic of Korea has received multiple recommendations by Member States and had rejected all but one about the releasing of all conscientious objectors imprisoned; this is a commitment which has not been yet completely fulfilled.

You can read here the complete country based report with more details on the legal development and insights on international standards.

You can find more information on the previous cycle of the Universal Periodic Review of the Republic of Korea here.


In Switzerland the domestic legislation does not fully comply with the international standards. IFOR has raised concerns related to the right to conscientious objection to military service such as the punitive duration of the alternative civilian service, the criminalisation of conscientious objectors who refuse or fail to perform the punitive and discriminatory alternative civilian service and finally the violation of the right to fair trial of conscientious objectors tried by military courts.

You can read the complete report here.

You can find out more about the previous review of Switzerland here.

The Universal Periodic Review is a State-driven process, which provides the opportunity for each State to present what actions they have taken to improve the human rights situation in their country and to fulfil their human rights obligations; the State under review will also report on the implementation of the previously accepted recommendations. UN Member States have the possibility to ask questions and make recommendations to the State under review. UPR Working Group consists of the 47 members of the Council, however any member state can take part in the discussion.
The review is based on information provided by the interested State, independent human rights experts and other stakeholders such as NGOs.
NGOs reports and proposed recommendations can be referred to by any of the States taking part in the interactive discussion during the review; it is therefore of vital importance to engage at the UPR and address specific issues which can be therefore part of the dialogue with the country under review.
IFOR focuses in particular on issues related to conscientious objection and to the militarization of society. 

IFOR is currently running a particular conscientious objection project, funded by the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT), a grant-making Quaker trust. Among the main aims there are research work and redaction of thematic country-based reports to be submitted to the UN for the regular State reviews on human rights.

The right to refuse to kill, although it is a human right, it is not recognized in all countries and many objectors are persecuted.

IFOR is committed to support this right and make a lasting change in society, for peace. JRCT recognizes that "change can take many years to achieve and is willing to take the long view, and to take the risks".

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IFOR participation in The Nuclear ban week in Vienna

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IFOR participation in The Nuclear ban week in Vienna

Here you can find a brief journal of IFOR attendance to the nuclear ban week in Vienna which has been very intense with outstanding events.

Don’t miss the photo album. [scroll down to the end]

Day 1 & Day 2

On the 18th and 19th we participated in the NGOs Forum organized by ICAN and on the 19th evening on the "Give peace a chance!" conference organized by ABFANG, IPB and WILPF.

At this link you can watch:

- recording of main events which took place during the June 18-19 NGOs Forum

- daily MSP TV: twice a day briefing concerning the ongoing Vienna events on nuclear disarmament (Conference on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons and Parliamentarians Conference on the 20th, 1MSP on 21-23rd, Youth Conference on the 21st . . .)

About 600 people participated in the Forum in the past 2 days, coming from all regions of the world such as the islands of the Pacific, Asia, Africa, South America . . .

The topic of nuclear weapons is a global urgent issue which involves those producing, owning and storing nukes and those who have been affected by their use and testing; nuclear weapons are a threat to human life and all earth life. The UN Treaty frames nukes as inhuman and illegal and it provides a plan to ban them!

At this link you can watch recording of main events which took place during the June 18-19 NGOs Forum

Pour lire en français, cliquez ici.

Para leer en español, haga clic aquí.

Day 3

On Monday July 20th, IFOR participated in the Conference on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons, which was organized by Austria at the Austrian center in Vienna with the participation of State delegations, NGOs, academics, OIs...

More info are available here.

Several experts took the floor on specific aspects concerning #nuclearweapons 1. What we know, 2. Impact on people and planet, 3. The risks.

Speakers were as well from UN Office for Disarmament Affairs Vienna, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) , International Committee of the Red Cross , KNOW NUKES TOKYO , UNIDIR, the UN Institute for Disarmament Research , Nuclear Information and Resource Service , SIPRI , Arms Control Association , Princeton University . . .

Here are some insights from the Conference:

  • P. Lewis reported on several cases concerning individuals who decided not to escalate as P. Stanislav in 1983.

  • "The more NATO emphasizes nuclear deterrence, the more it legitimizes nuclear threats" D. Kimball

  • "Nuclear detonation may be a low probability event, but not a zero probability event" J. Revill

  • "Nuclear colonialism has been affecting indigenous communities" M. Olsen

  • "Illusion to bend the future to our will; illusion of control" Z. Mian

  • "We live in a system of states, not of people, and states make wars" Z. Mian

  • "Fragility of security theory based on nuclear deterrence" Z. Mian

  • "Only the elimination of nuclear weapons offer effective prevention" Z. Mian

The detailed program is available here.

The complete list of speakers and bio is available here.

Chair's summary here.

The Opening remarks by Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu High Representative for Disarmament Affairs are available here.

Day 4

Tuesday 21st, the historical 1 Conference TPNW MSP started at the UN Vienna with the opening message by António Guterres UN Secretary General, the director of International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), UN Office for Disarmament Affairs Vienna.

We expected many States “observers” such as those in the middle of the ratification process and those still reluctant to sign the treaty.
4 NATO members (Norway, Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands) will attend as observers and there is the last minute chance for others to join in.
It's important not to give up and to persist on national campaigning and lobby efforts!

The meeting continued with testimonies from nuclear weapons victims.

Member States delivered statements on #nuclearweapons from different perspectives.

Here some insights from the general debate from States, IOs and NGOs:

  • "Preserve life, instead of threaten it"

  • "Unacceptable humanitarian consequences" Austria

  • "Deterrence is an ultimate call for further proliferation" Austria

  • "We need a realistic approach based on evidences" Austria

  • "Multilateral cooperation is the only way for global concerns" Austria

  • "Many ratifications from the Pacific which bears scars of decades of nuclear testing" New Zealand

  • "Nuclear weapons are never the answer" New Zealand

  • "Nuclear deterrence does not preserve peace" South Africa

  • "Sense of responsibility and urgency; no room for procrastination" South Africa

  • "Culture of peace instead of culture of death" Venezuela

  • "Nuclear weapons offer no security" Ireland

  • "Nuclear weapons are contrary to the spirit of U.N. and its Chart" Guyana

  • "Giant step for the preservation of human life" Trinidad and Tobago

  • "Importance of addressing the financing of such production" ICAN-Etica

  • "We banned them and we will eliminate them" Parliamentarians for the TPNW

  • "Every dollar on missile is a moral abhorrence" Fiji

TPNW is available here.

The Program of work of the 1MSP is available here.

ICAN updates on the 1st day of the MSP is available here.

Secretary-General’s video message to the Opening of the First Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is available here.

ICAN executive director statement is available here.

To read in French, click here.

To read in Spanish, click here.

Day 5

On the 2nd day of the 1MSP, on June 22nd, the plenary adopted decisions on art. 4 of the #TPNW concerning above all 10 years time for the destruction of nuclear weapons owned by states parties and 90 days for the removal of nuclear weapons from hosting states.

 The working session then addressed Art. 6 and 7 on "Victim assistance and environmental remediation" and "International cooperation and assistance".

Among speakers there have been representatives of the civil society who shared their first hand testimonies as 2nd and 3rd generation affected victims.

International Fellowship of Reconciliation - IFOR joined an interfaith oral statement delivered by World Council of Churches on behalf of 144 NGOs, including Pax Christi International, Soka Gakkai . . .

You can read more on the Interfaith joined statement and its signatories here.

Kiribati rep called on all 1MSP participants to gather together as "brothers and sisters".

The debate was also characterized by statements of observer states such as NATO members Sweden, Germany, Norway and The Netherlands. 

Germany statement is available here.

Norway statement is available here.

Swede statement is available here.

Switzerland (another observer state at the 1MSP) statement is available here.

Read more insights on the 2nd day of the 1MSP here.

Day 6

The 3rd day of the 1MSP, on June 23rd, concluded an historical Conference on nuclear disarmament, which adopted by consensus the Vienna declaration: the Action Plan in 50 points to move forward with nuclear disarmament and fully implement.

More details are available here.

ICAN's preliminary analysis on these 2 historical documents is available here.

Several principles have been highlighted:

  • scientific advisory committee

  • universality

  • complementarity (with the NPT)

  • gender perspective

  • …


Several member states took the floor as well as NGOs such as International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) that stated again the perfect complementary with NPT and the TPNW's vital importance.

The plenary agreed as well on the 2MSP presidency to Mexico and the 3MSP presidency to Kazakhstan.

The President of the Conference, Alexander Kmentt, celebrated the historical outcome restating:

"Important message from this meeting, a clear message"

"Now the real work will start!"

"We set a new standard to work together and efficiently"

"Thank you to observers who have not yet made their mind on it"

"Viva Mexico!"

The meeting ended with excitement and celebrations from all participants, diplomats and civil society together.

Nuclear ban week concluded with renewed commitment to nuclear disarmament by all the MSP and renewed joint effort with civil society to free the world from nuclear weapons and remediate its harm.

Nuclear weapons are banned and there is a Plan!

The nuclear ban week has been a very intense week with many useful and interesting insights. 

July 7th commemorated as well the 5th anniversary of the adoption of the TPNW which entered into force on January 22nd 2021 following the reaching of its 50th ratification on October 24th 2020.

Till today, 66 countries had already ratified the TPNW

Day 1 Photo-Book

Day 2 Photo-Book

Day 3 Photo-Book

Day 4 Photo-Book

Day 5 Photo-Book

Day 6 Photo-Book

Additional Tools:

  • Take a look at the pictures and posts published on IFOR's Facebook page and share them!

  • At this link you can watch daily MSP TV: twice a day briefing concerning the ongoing Vienna events on nuclear disarmament (Conference on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons and Parliamentarians Conference on the 20th, 1MSP on 21-23rd, Youth Conference on the 21st . . .)

  • More streaming here

  • All the statements delivered during the 1MSP by invited guests, member states, observer states, international organizations and NGOs are available here.

  • ICAN's pictures from NGOs forum (free to use for ICAN’s partner organisations for non-commercial use, please just make sure to credit the photographer and ICAN):

  • ICAN's ED Beatrice Fihn highlights about the #nuclearbanweek:

    • The panels and discussions at the Nuclear Ban Forum were . I was so impressed with the energy, commitment, new and fresh angles on this issue and just the joy of us being together again.

    • It almost got lost in the noise, but we got three states (!) from three different continents to join the treaty on the eve of the MSP. This shows that the momentum for the treaty keeps growing, and we know many more states are on their way to ratify. Congratulations to Timor-Leste, Grenada and Cabo Verde. 

    • The first ever Parliamentarians for TPNW conference took place, and it was so great to see relationships building and  connections being made between our supportive parliamentarians across countries. Plans were made and participants plotted about how they can get their countries to join the treaty. This is such important work to increase the power and reach of the TPNW.

    • We had financial institutions engaging as stakeholders in the Treaty meetings for the first time. Financial institutions and investors  representing €230 billion sent a strong message of support and solidarity to the MSP, and raised divestment as a way to implement the TPNW.

    • We got five nuclear allied states, Norway, Germany, Australia, Netherlands and Belgium, to attend the MSP. While we have lots of work left to get them to join the treaty,  we need to recognize that this was a very impressive achievement for our partners in these countries. 

    • The Nuclear Ban Forum, the Humanitarian Conference and the MSP were packed with young people and new campaigners, from all corners of the world. This is such a clear sign that our movement is reasoning with people and becoming stronger and stronger. A big thanks to Youth for TPNW, Reverse The Trend and all other organisations that prioritized bringing young people to Vienna, and for every single partner organisation who are creating a campaign that is welcoming for new people and creating space for young activists to make their voices heard. 

    • The outcome documents of the MSP were really incredible achievements, and no other nuclear weapons forum will in the foreseeable future be able to get close to what we achieved.. The Vienna Declaration is the strongest multilateral declaration against the threat of nuclear weapons use that has ever been adopted. There are so many good parts in this document, and we hope to have more analysis and writings about it coming out soon. Please do share any writing and commentary that you and your networks are publishing on this, in absence of media coverage on this we need to make sure we spread the word ourselves.

    • The Vienna action plan is pretty unique for a UN treaty outcome document in its inclusiveness of civil society, impacted communities and academics and scientists as well as in its concrete and timebound commitments by states. Here’s a list of the key decisions that were taken, and we’ll follow up with more information and analysis of what this means in the coming weeks. 

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WEBINAR: Conscientious objection in Europe today with focus on the war in Ukraine: 27 May 2022, 17:00-18:30 CEST

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WEBINAR: Conscientious objection in Europe today with focus on the war in Ukraine: 27 May 2022, 17:00-18:30 CEST

Joint web event EBCO, IFOR, WRI


Friday 27 May 2022, 17:00-18:30 CEST (Brussels time)
Conscientious objection in Europe today with focus on the war in Ukraine

Moderator: Semih Sapmaz, War Resisters' International

  1. Presentation of EBCO Annual Report on Conscientious Objection to Military Service in Europe:

    • Summary of findings: Alexia Tsouni, EBCO President, Association of Conscientious Objectors (Greece)

    • Focus on Turkey: Merve Arkun, EBCO Vice-President, Conscientious Objection Watch (Turkey)

    • EBCO recommendations Zaira Zafarana, International Fellowship of Reconciliation

Q&A

  1. Focus on the war in Ukraine:

    • Resisting war in Ukraine: Yurii Sheliazhenko, Ukrainian Pacifist Movement

    • Opposing war in Russia: Alexander Belik, Russian Movement of Conscientious Objectors

    • Right to asylum for war resisters: Rudi Friedrich, Connection e.V. (Germany)

Q&A

  1. Open discussion & exchange on future actions

 

Please note that you need to register in advance for the event here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/.../reg.../WN_Vt3zH78mTGu19C9N-HswaA

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar


Visit and share the Facebook link. 
This is part of the CO Marathon, Read more about it on our webpage!

You can watch the recording on our Youtube Channel.

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Mir Italy, FOR USA and FOR India have published 3 open letters regarding Finland and Sweden applying for NATO membership.

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Mir Italy, FOR USA and FOR India have published 3 open letters regarding Finland and Sweden applying for NATO membership.

Cari amici in Finlandia e Svezia – Dear friends in Finland and Sweden

Lettera aperta del MIR Italia sull’entrata di Finlandia e Svezia nella NATO

Read the Italian version here.

Open letter by MIR Italy on Finland and Sweden applying for NATO membership

Dear friends in Finland and Sweden and all Europe,

Every day is a day of war in different areas of the planet, and no change is foreseen anywhere near, as a logic of war, confrontation and enmity is dominant among States.
Evidence of this is the increasing military expenditure linked to the production and trade of weapons.

The terrible war in Ukraine, instead of decreasing, is escalating with the direct involvement of the Atlantic Alliance States, to the point of risking a world conflict with nuclear weapons.
Developments in Russia’s aggression in Ukraine have caused the Swedish and Finnish governments to consider applying for NATO membership. We understand the concern and fear of being a target for possible war action.

We see the choice to join NATO as dangerous for peace in Europe, first of all because it increases military confrontation in the region and strengthens an alliance for war, instead of advocating de-escalation and a change of register that privileges alliances and dialogues for peace.
Europe has been torn apart by the World Wars and the European Union was born with the purpose of creating a ‘union’ to build peace and support and safeguard coexistence between peoples.
Strengthening military alliances means giving the force of arms predominance in the relations between states.
We should work for peace, with alliances for peace.
If Finland’s and Sweden’s neutrality fails, this could provoke a reaction from Russia in the context of an ever-expanding military alliance that was created in an anti-Russian perspective. The NATO membership of Sweden and Finland would strengthen the alliance that already includes 30 countries.

Unfortunately, Italy is a member of NATO and this means, among other things, the presence of military bases with personnel from other countries on our territory and the use of these bases for interventions in war zones in which we, as Italians, are not directly involved and do not want to be involved.
We are under pressure all the time to increase military spending and to comply with our treaty obligations.
It is a militarist commitment.
“Italy repudiates war as an instrument for the resolution of conflicts between states”; this is what is stated in Article 11 of our Constitution and it is what we loudly repeat all the time, even every time that unfortunately drones and military missions depart from bases on our territory. In addition, Italy, which through two referendums has rejected the nuclear option, finds itself unfortunately hosting around 70 nuclear bombs of others in these bases.

We, in Italy, do not feel more secure, on the contrary, we always feel fully involved every time a military aircraft takes off from the bases in Sigonella or Aviano or Ghedi, to name but a few.
All over Europe, including Italy, civil society organisations are mobilising to ask their governments to leave NATO, to abandon a military alignment that divides the world and is very often an enslavement to foreign powers.

We must stop this insane military escalation, insisting on peace negotiations, mediation and dialogue.
Non-violence is our lighthouse and history teaches us that a non-violent transformation of conflicts can be possible, so that the reasons for peace and the lives of the peoples involved prevail over nationalistic interests and logics.

We need new signs of peace, of openness to dialogue.
More weapons do not make the world safer, but closer to more easy deadly triggers.

Your history of neutrality is important; we need an ‘active neutrality’ that contributes to de-escalation and mediation and that strengthens multilateralism, to change course from the current ruinous path where the logic of violence prevails.

Our appeal, our Finnish and Swedish friends, is for the war to cease, for your peoples not to be involved and for lives to be spared, and for us all to work together to ‘build peace’, with instruments of peace, otherwise it will never be peace.

For we ‘peoples of the United Nations are determined to save future generations from the scourge of war’, but also and especially now, the present generation.
Let us continue together to work for peace and urge our governments to a real constructive commitment to peace, under the banner of multilateralism, while also supporting the full implementation of the UN’s purpose, ‘to maintain international peace and security’.

In fellowship with all of you.

On Sweden Joining NATO: A Letter from FOR-USA to SweFOR

By FORUSA

Dear sisters and brothers in the Sweden FOR,

Our hearts break for you and your country. Sweden’s expected application to join NATO is a devastating blow for our shared global peace movement. Sweden’s 200 years of stated neutrality and military non-alignment have long offered a sign that nation-states can play a critical role as well.  

We join the Sweden Fellowship of Reconciliation in appealing to Sweden (and Finland) to remain neutral, alongside Austria, Cyprus, Ireland, and Malta. The Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine is illegitimate and indefensible, but must be countered and resolved through negotiations and mediation – something Sweden is best placed to support if it remains neutral. President Vladimir Putin has made a giant miscalculation and the Russian war machine is overextended, beleaguered, and unable to manage an endless conflict. If a face-saving way out is not negotiated, it becomes more likely that Putin will resort to Russia’s arsenal of 6,257 nuclear warheads. In such a fearful instance, there is nothing that NATO can do to save Sweden or Europe.

SweFOR, upon its founding in 1919, carried further Sweden’s proclivity for global community when it joined the International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR) “to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence in the world, while advancing the pacific management of conflicts and respect for human rights and international humanitarian law.” While we recognize your nation’s longstanding reputation as a leader in preventing war has been damaged by its recent role as a major international source of arms production and sales, nevertheless the Swedish government’s significant funding of global human rights NGOs, including SweFOR, is testimony to its continuing constructive leadership. We believe that will be irreversibly damaged should Sweden join NATO.

Indeed, we honor Sweden’s historic efforts to strengthen international decision-making bodies, such as the 1953 appointment of Dag Hammarskjold as the United Nation’s second Secretary-General. Succeeding Trygve Lie of Norway in that role, Hammarskjold helped model peace-building diplomacy rooted in common decency and trustworthiness. These iconic leaders paved the way for generations of Scandinavians to be welcomed at innumerable negotiations tables worldwide. Today, with the UN’s reputation severely tarnished (particularly due to its corrupted so-called Security Council) and the prospect of both Finland and Sweden joining NATO, there is a foreboding sense that the values of multilateralism and inclusivity have been eliminated.

We recognize that our perspective at FOR-USA is offered from the vantage point of a country with limited moral authority. Our nation was founded on the dual genocides of its Indigenous peoples and of enslaved Africans, and for centuries the capitalist and imperialist policies of the U.S. government have led to the deaths, incarceration, and exploitation of countless millions at home and abroad. Despite boasting the greatest financial wealth in private hands and the most expensive military ever in human history, there are an estimated 140 million poor and low-wage people today in our nation. Nevertheless, as we recognize and resist our government’s relentless warmaking machine, with U.S. armed forces in control of at least 750 military bases in 80 countries – including five in Europe, which have nuclear weapons aimed at Russia alongside similar nuclear-strike capabilities of other NATO members – we urge Sweden to resist joining NATO, arguably the largest and most threatening military entity in the world.

Our world today needs to prioritize nonviolent solutions and alliances for peace, not greater investment in militarism. The best hope now is to focus on what is most important: saving lives. To achieve this, we urge Sweden to remain neutral and do what it often does best: diplomacy, by pushing for a cease-fire and finding a way for President Putin to extract himself from this unwinnable and untenable situation and its ominous end point of nuclear holocaust. Dismantlement of NATO towards a plan to achieve a common global security system and architecture should be part of this vision.

In deep peace, solidarity and fellowship,
Ethan Vesely-Flad and Anthony Nicotera
Interim Co-Executive Directors
U.S. Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR-USA)

OUR INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP – WE STAND WITH YOU SWEFOR AND HOPE SWEDEN WILL CONTINUE AS A NON-ALIGNED NATION

May 18th 2022

Message from FOR India

Our truths vary depending on our perspectives and geographical locations. The only one constant is that we believe in nonviolence as being the right and the most appropriate way and means to usher in change from power and dominance through militarisation which we see all around. Most of us live in societies where there is an assimilation of modernity and tradition in every aspect of our everyday life.

The pandemic and the war in Ukraine have challenged us to re-examine several of our beliefs in the capacity of the state to deal with supply chain and trade disruptions, energy interdependence and the future of warfare. We are forced to think about the limits of state sovereignty and the credibility of the United Nations Charter to protect nations' states.

Among the developed nations all over the world we are witnessing the backlash against globalisation which had mainly two forms - the economic and cultural. The unemployed and the poor in the developed world have begun to feel that they have no stake in the globalised system and demanded from their own governments why government policies benefited people from other parts of the world with what used to be ‘their jobs’. The growing inequality within their society made its way to a desire to go back to the security of the older and more familiar economic systems where each generation assumed that they would earn more and live better than their parents did.  

The cultural backlash derived from the same resentment and led to hostility towards foreigners and increasing sections of people in the developed world sought the comforts of traditional identity and ways of life. Globalisation brought in a new set of liberal politics, technocrats, trade agreements, cosmopolitans, immigration, secularism, and multiculturalism which suited a small section of society while the great majority of the society turned back to cultural rootedness, religious or ethnic identity and national authenticity as the way to their future.

Several leaders from the Americas and Europe have seized the opportunity to tap into both the economic and cultural backlash against globalisation and some of them have won their electoral battles and a few have come close enough to shift the national discourse. 

It is in this context we from our Asian part of the world see Sweden and Finland moving out of their space as nonaligned countries and moving towards the NATO military alliance. In our vulnerable world every action of the developed world whether it be trade sanctions or military alliances gives out a new message that no useful help can be expected from any country and that national interests is the choice over international cooperation. Britain leaving the EU, the US leaving the Paris climate agreement, President Trump pulling the US out of the WHO are some of the moves which took place which had an impact on the underdeveloped or developing world.

We from the Fellowship in India join the voice with Mir Italy and US FOR to urge the Swedish Government to continue as a nonaligned nation. The world must live and work together again and the idea of our common humanity made real. Sweden and Finland have a unique position in this effort. 

In fellowship,

Mathew George

FOR India   

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