The International Fellowship of Reconciliation submitted a report on conscientious objection to military service to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, answering to the call for inputs for the preparation of the OHCHR quadrennial analytical report on this topic which will be presented at the 50th session of the UN Human Rights Council in June 2022. The OHCHR report aims to provide information on new developments, best practices and remaining challenges regarding conscientious objection to military service since 2017
INTRODUCTION
The International Fellowship of Reconciliation welcomes the opportunity to submit input for the quadrennial report of the OHCHR on the right to conscientious objection to military service and expresses its appreciation for this important work.
This contribution is based on IFOR's research and report compilation work on the right to conscientious objection to military service, and largely on the work undertaken for UN State Reviews within the Universal Periodic Review process of the Human Rights Council and within the Human Rights Committee.
Following an overview of main aspects concerning the right to conscientious objection, since the last quadrennial Report, this submission provides a compendium of some country-based analyses on the right to conscientious objection and related issues with presentation of local developments, good practices and remaining challenges.
The right to conscientious objection to military service is directly linked to the right to life and the main purpose of the United Nations “to bring about by peaceful means, and in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations which might lead to a breach of the peace“.
Additionally, IFOR would like to emphasize the importance of the collective effort within the UN system and particularly at the Human Rights Council regarding the right to conscientious objection to military service. During the 36th session of the Council, following the presentation of the last OHCHR thematic report, Resolution A/HRC/36/L.20 on conscientious objection was adopted without a vote.
It is also important to encourage attention to this right during regular state review procedures, then to invite member states to accept recommendations on this issue and to provide assistance in efforts to fully implement this human right.
OVERVIEW
The right to conscientious objection to military service is a human right inherent to the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and "it entitles any individual to an exemption from compulsory military service if this cannot be reconciled with that individual’s religion or belief".
In this overview a number of main issues related to the right to conscientious objection are listed -accompanied with some cases-, highlighting developments, good practices and remaining challenges. These issues will then be detailed in the section dedicated to the country-based analyses.
OHCHR quadrennial report on conscientious objection to military service
In its resolution 20/2 adopted on 16 July 2012, the Human Rights Council requested the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights “to prepare, in consultation with all States, relevant United Nations agencies, programmes and funds, intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and national human rights institutions, a quadrennial analytical report on conscientious objection to military service, in particular on new developments, best practices and remaining challenges.”
The previous quadrennial analytical report was published on May 1st 2017 and presented to the 35th session of the UN Human Rights Council. You can read here the OHCHR report A/HRC/35/4 and contributions previously submitted
On May 25th 2019 the OHCHR published a new report on approaches and challenges for obtaining the status of conscientious objector to military service which was then presented to the 41st session of the UN Human Rights Council.