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.

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#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.

https://www.facebook.com/InternationalFellowshipofReconciliation

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#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.

Puedes compartirlo en las redes sociales.

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.

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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. 

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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-

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.

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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".

IFOR joins statement at the UN on Western Sahara

On the occasion of the opening debate of the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council, which took place in Geneva on March 8th, the International Fellowship of Reconciliation joined a statement delivered by the American Association of Jurists, on behalf of the NGOs Geneva Support Group for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights in Western Sahara.

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Item 2 – Annual report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights General debate 

I thank you, 

I have the honour to speak on behalf of a group of more than 300 organisations (www.genevaforwesternsahara.org); including the Sahrawi National Commission of Human  Rights. 

We express our deepest concern about the continuing systematic and serious violations of human  rights and International Humanitarian Law norms committed by the Kingdom of Morocco in the  occupied Non-Self-Governing Territory of Western Sahara. 

The illegal plundering of the Saharawi natural resources continues with the support in particular  of the member countries of the European Union, in violation of the decisions of the Court of  Justice of the European Union. 

Sahrawi human rights defenders, journalists and political prisoners are subjected to harassment,  threats, arbitrary arrests, ill-treatment, torture, sexual violence. Peaceful manifestations in the  Occupied Western Sahara are violently repressed. The use of drones has caused the death of civilians of different nationalities. 

The inexplicable silence observed by the Office of the High Commissioner regrettably supports  the persistent impunity enjoyed by the Kingdom of Morocco for the crimes committed in the  Occupied Western Sahara. 

I thank you for your attention. 

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Point 2 – Rapport annuel du Haut-Commissaire des Nations Unies aux droits de l’homme Débat général 

Je vous remercie, 

J'ai l'honneur de parler au nom d'un groupe de plus de 300 organisations  (www.genevaforwesternsahara.org) ; y compris la Commission Nationale Sahraouie des Droits  de l'Homme. 

Nous exprimons notre plus vive préoccupation quant aux violations systématiques et graves des  droits de l'homme et des normes du Droit International Humanitaire commises par le Royaume  du Maroc dans le Territoire Non Autonome occupé du Sahara Occidental. 

Le pillage illégal des ressources naturelles du peuple Sahraoui continue avec le soutien en  particulier des pays membres de l’Union européenne, en violation des décisions de la Cour de  Justice de l’Union européenne. 

Les défenseurs des droits de l'homme, les journalistes et les prisonniers politiques sahraouis sont  soumis au harcèlement, aux menaces, aux arrestations arbitraires, aux mauvais traitements, à la  torture, aux violences sexuelles. Les manifestations pacifiques au Sahara occidental occupé sont  violemment réprimées. L’utilisation de drones a causé la mort de civils de différentes  nationalités. 

L’inexplicable silence observé par le Haut-Commissariat vient malheureusement conforter  l'impunité persistante dont jouit le Royaume du Maroc pour les crimes commis au Sahara  Occidental occupé.

Je vous remercie pour votre attention.  

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Tema 2 – Informe anual del Alto Comisionado de las Naciones Unidas para los Derechos  Humanos 

Debate general 

Muchas gracias, 

Tengo el honor de hablar en nombre de un grupo de más de 300 organizaciones  (www.genevaforwesternsahara.org); incluida la Comisión Nacional Saharaui de Derechos  Humanos. 

Expresamos nuestra más profunda preocupación por las sistemáticas y graves violaciones de los  derechos humanos y de las normas del Derecho Internacional Humanitario cometidas por el  Reino de Marruecos en el Territorio No Autónomo ocupado del Sahara Occidental. 

El saqueo ilegal de los recursos naturales del pueblo saharaui continúa con el apoyo en particular  de los países miembros de la Unión Europea, en violación de las decisiones del Tribunal de  Justicia de la Unión Europea. 

Los defensores de los derechos humanos, los periodistas y los presos políticos saharauis son  objeto de acoso, amenazas, detenciones arbitrarias, malos tratos, tortura, violencia sexual. Las  manifestaciones pacíficas en el Sáhara Occidental ocupado son reprimidas con violencia. El uso  de drones ha causado la muerte de civiles de diferentes nacionalidades. 

El inexplicable silencio observado por la Oficina del Alto Comisionado lamentablemente  respalda la persistente impunidad de la que goza el Reino de Marruecos por los crímenes  cometidos en el Sáhara Occidental Ocupado. 

Les agradezco su atención. 

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Click here to read the complete text of the statement.

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Western Sahara case

1963                 Western Sahara was integrated to the list of Non Self-Governing Territories (NSGT) by the Special Committee on decolonization (C24), the proposal was endorsed by the UN General Assembly (resolution 1956).

1966                 Adoption of resolution 2229 by the UN General Assembly, which invited the Administering Power (Spain) to determine at the earliest possible date the procedures for the holding of a referendum with a view to enabling the indigenous population of the Territory to exercise freely its right to self-determination; Spain failed in its mandate as Administering Power and never organized the referendum.

6 Nov. 1975       the International Court of Justice (ICJ) released its Advisory opinion requested by the UN General Assembly on the legal status of Western Sahara: the Court asserted that the materials and information presented to it do not establish any tie of territorial sovereignty between the territory of Western Sahara and the Kingdom of Morocco. Thus the Court has not found legal ties of such a nature as might affect the application of resolution 1514 (XV) in the decolonization of Western Sahara and, in particular, of the principle of self-determination through the free and genuine expression of the will of the peoples of the Territory.

                        Hassan II launched the military invasion of Western Sahara, followed by thousands of civilians (Green March).

                        Adoption of resolution 380 by the UN Security Council, which called upon Morocco immediately to withdrawn from the Territory of Western Sahara all the participants in the march.

NOTE: From then on, Western Sahara became (and still is today) the only NSGT which is under foreign illegal military occupation.

26 Febr. 1976     Spain informed the UN Secretary General that as of that date it had terminated its presence in Western Sahara and relinquished its responsibility over the Territory.

NOTE: From then on, Western Sahara became (and still is today) the only NSGT which has not an internationally recognised Administering Power: de jure, Spain should still be considered as the Administering Power, de facto, the UN has the primary responsibility over the Territory.

1979                 Mauritania signed a peace agreement with the Polisario Front and withdrew from the Territory.

                        Adoption of resolution 34/37 by the UN General Assembly, which deeply deplored the aggravation of the situation resulting from the continued occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco and the extension of that occupation to the territory evacuated by Mauritania. The General Assembly also recognized the Polisario Front as the representative of the people of Western Sahara.

1980                 Adoption of resolution 35/19 by the UN General Assembly, which declared that it was deeply concerned at the aggravation of the situation deriving from the continued occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco and reiterated the appeal to Morocco to terminate the occupation of Western Sahara.

. . . continue reading about Western Sahara case, and recent developments, in English, Spanish and French on the website of the Geneva Support Group

IFOR speaks on refuse to war and #ConscientiousObjection in Ukraine at the 47th UN Human Rights Council

#IFORatUN #47HRC #ConscientiousObjection #FreedomExpression #Ukraine

The International Fellowship of Reconciliation - IFOR is participating in the 47th session of the Human Rights Council which is taking place in Geneva UN Headquarter.

Today, Friday July 9th, IFOR has participated in the Interactive Dialogue on human rights in Ukraine and has delivered an oral statement in the plenary highlighting violations to the Right to #ConscientiousObjection to military service in Ukraine and referring the case of the pacifist journalist Ruslan Kotsaba (Руслан Коцабa) who is again under trial because he expressed opposition to the military mobilization for armed conflict in eastern Ukraine and recently, on June 25th, has been victim of an attack with a chemical substance by a far-right group.

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Human Rights Council, 47th Session 

Geneva, 9th July 2021 

Item 10: Interactive dialogue on the oral update of the High Commissioner on Ukraine (HRC res. 41/25)  and interim report of Secretary-General on the situation of human rights in Crimea (GA res. 75/192) 

Oral statement delivered by the International Fellowship of Reconciliation. 

Thank you Madam President. 

International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR) thanks the High Commissioner and Her office for the oral  presentation on Ukraine and as well the Secretary General and His office for its report. 

We express concern about the militarization in the country, the increase of draftees enlisted planned for the  2021 military draft and the ongoing violations of the right to conscientious objection to military service. 

Alternative service, for instance, in Ukraine has a punitive and discriminatory character and it is hardly  accessible. 

IFOR would like to draw again1the attention of the Members of this Council and of the High Commissioner  to the case of Ukrainian journalist and pacifist Ruslan Kotsaba who is again under trial2because of a video posted in 2015 to express opposition to the military mobilization for armed conflict in eastern Ukraine3. He  has already spent over 500 days under arrest for his expression of anti-war thoughts and is accused again of  treason and obstructing military operations. 

On June 25th he was victim of an attack with the green chemical "Seljonka" by a neo-Nazi group at the Ivano Frankivsk railway station and received ophthalmological treatment at the hospital.4[Unfortunately, the attack  on Ruslan Kotsaba is not the only act of violence against Ukrainian activists in recent times.] 

As already highlighted by IFOR5, “Freedom of thought, conscience and religion is a non-derogable right”,  alike freedom of expression, “and it continues to apply regardless of a situation of armed conflict.” 

Thank you. 

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1. Oral statement delivered by IFOR during the 45th Human Rights Council - Interactive Dialogue on the oral presentation of the report on the  situation of human rights in Ukraine on December 18th 2020. 

2. In Kolomyia City District Court of Ivano-Frankivsk Region. The High Specialized Court on Civil and Criminal Cases in 2017 quashed the acquittal and ordered a retrial. Then several judges and local courts  recused from the case; the court ordered to return formal accusation for further investigation, but the order was quashed by the appellate court;  and now, judges Kalyniuk, Berkeshuk, and Veselov will examine 58 witnesses of the supposed political impact of Ruslan's video blog and pass  their judgment. 

3. Ruslan Kotsaba was arrested on 7 February 2015 in Ivano-Frankivsk, 130 km south-east of Lviv, after he posted a video describing the conflict  as “the Donbas fratricidal civil war”. He also expressed opposition to military conscription of Ukrainians to take part in the conflict. He was then named as Amnesty International’s first Ukrainian prisoner of conscience in five years. He has already spent 524 days under arrest  and was duly acquitted in 2016. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2015/04/ukraine-suspicious-deaths-need-credible-investigations/ 

4. https://www.coe.int

5. Oral statements delivered by IFOR at the 45th session of the Human rights Council, on October 1st, during the ID with the High Commissioner  on the findings of OHCHR report on the situation of human rights in Ukraine.

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Here you can download the original text.

It is possible to watch the session here (IFOR statement is at 04:16:14)

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The case of Ruslan Kotsaba.

Ruslan Kotsaba recognized as a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International back in 2015. His case is in the spotlight of the Council of Europe Platform on the protection of journalism and the safety of journalists.

The June 25th attack on Ruslan Kotsaba has not been the first one, unfortunately.

About this episode, more information and an interview with the victim concerned are available here.

On January 22nd 2021, the pacifist journalist was attacked near the Kolomyia City District Court of Ivano-Frankivsk Region, in Ukraine, as he was going to the hearing for the trial where he is charged for publications against the war. He published in 2015 a video titled “I refuse to mobilize”.

Read more about the case of this journalist by clicking here.

Here you can find some additional information on recent IFOR initiatives in solidarity with this pacifist journalist.

Here you can read about the statement that IFOR has previously delivered in the plenary at the UN Human Rights Council in December 2020 during a special Interactive Dialogue on Ukraine, reporting on the case of Ruslan Kotsaba.