The International Fellowship of Reconciliation has just submitted to the UN Human Rights Committee a report on Turkmenistan regarding the right to conscientious objection to military service.
In particular, IFOR highlights the non-recognition of this right in the country and the consequent discrimination of conscientious objectors, as outlined by the individual cases mentioned in the text.
Along with the non-recognition of the CO right, other relevant issues are the imprisonment of conscientious objectors, the violation on the ne bis in idem principle and the torture and ill-treatment of prisoners.
The Report has been prepared for the adoption of the List of Issues which will be undertaken by the Committee at its 134th session which will take place in March.
Learn more about the States review procedure at the Human Rights Committee
The Human Rights Committee is the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights by its State parties. It meets at the Palais Wilson and its Members serve in their personal capacity, not as representatives of their Governments.
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights has been Adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 2200A (XXI) of 16 December 1966; it entered into force on 23 March 1976.
Here you can find an easy-to read version of the Covenant
The right to conscientious objection to military service inheres in the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, Art 18 of the Covenant. It entitles any individual to an exemption from compulsory military service if such service cannot be reconciled with his/her religion or beliefs.
All States parties are obliged to submit regular reports to the Committee on how the rights are being implemented.
Civil society organizations are invited to submit "alternative reports" and contribute to the review procedure.
The Committee examines each report and addresses its concerns and recommendations to the State party in the form of "concluding observations”.
The process of examining a report runs across two Committee sessions.
At the first session, reporting procedure are streamlined and a “List of Issues” arising from the relevant report and other information supplied to the Committee is adopted.
The List of Issues addresses the most crucial matters regarding the enjoyment of Covenant rights in the relevant State and often seeks additional information with respect to key questions. The List of Issues is sent to the State party well in advance - at least one session ahead - of the session at which the report will be examined in the presence of representatives of the State party.
Subsequently, the Committee is also often briefed, typically in an informal meeting, on views of members of civil society wishing to bring Committee members up to date on certain issues.
The Committee then proceeds to examine each report in a public constructive dialogue with a delegation of the relevant State party.
The examination begins by an opening presentation of the report by the State party’s delegation, often including a response to the List of Issues. Thereafter, Committee members put questions to the representatives, seeking to clarify or deepen understanding of issues arising concerning the implementation and enjoyment of Covenant rights in the State party.
After the conclusion of this dialogue, the Committee drafts detailed written concluding observations on the report in question. The concluding observations have the dual function of helping States to prepare future reports and helping the Committee to focus on the most 19 critical issues in future dialogues over future reports. All concluding observations are publicly available via the Treaty Bodies database of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf).
The Committee’s follow-up procedure complements and focuses the efforts of States parties and civil society subsequent to the adoption of concluding observations.