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51st Session

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

October 4, 2022

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.

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Comment

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

September 23, 2022

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.

Comment

IFOR addresses the right to conscientious objection to military service at the 51st UN Human Rights Council

September 21, 2022

On September 21st, International Peace Day, IFOR took the floor in the plenary of the 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva delivering a statement on the right to conscientious objection to military service.

IFOR acknowledged the quadrennial thematic report presented by the Office of the High Commissioner during the last session of the Council and highlighted concerning issues and including the issue of provisions at wartime not in line with international standards.

IFOR called on the Council to strongly commit and ensure the full implementation of the right to conscientious objection to military service.

As per past practice of the Council, following the presentation of the OHCHR thematic report -which took place during the 50th session-, a resolution on the right to conscientious objection to military service is expected to be adopted during this session of the Council. Ongoing informal negotiations are led by Costa Rica, Croatia and Poland.

Human Rights Council, 51st Session

21 st September 2022

GD Item 3: Promotion and protection of all human rights, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights Oral statement delivered by the International Fellowship of Reconciliation.

Madam Vice President,

IFOR welcomes the report of the OHCHR on the right to conscientious objection to military service which has been presented to this Council during the last session. This is of benefit to the entire international community and all concerned individuals around the world.

The report highlighted some positive progress as the introduction of legal provisions for alternative service in the Republic of Korea [and consequent reduction of imprisoned local objectors] . It also reported the pivotal UN Human Rights Committee Views concerning the Petromelidis v. Greece case which made outstanding jurisprudence on this right.

There are still concerning issues such as the punitive alternative service which continues to affect many conscientious objectors in several countries.

Unfortunately, there are still some States which do not recognize this human right. Too many objectors continue to be imprisoned or forced to flee their country looking for protection.

As highlighted by the previous SR in His report presented in the 50th session, we are deeply alarmed by the violation of this right in situations of armed conflicts and kindly invite the new Special Rapporteur to continue to monitor such violation. In some countries there are special provisions concerning this right at time of armed conflict [which differs from the regular provisions and] do not comply with international standards; other countries deny this right in case of mobilization.

Freedom of thought, conscience and religion is a non-derogable right and it continues to apply regardless of a situation of armed conflict.

The work of this Council is essential to ensure the full enjoyment of the human right of conscientious objection to military service which is inherent to the right to freedom of thought conscience ad religion.

IFOR calls upon the Member States to strongly commit to the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and collaborate to ensure the full implementation of the right to conscientious objection to military service in all countries, [in compliance with the international standards].

Thank you