Conscientious objection

30/04/1998 1 Conscription

conscription does not exist

Costa Rica abolished its armed forces constitutionally in 1949. According to art. 12 of the 1949 Constitution: "The Army as a permanent institution is proscribed. For vigilance and the preservation of the public order, there will be the necessary police forces." [5]

The constitution provides for the introduction of both armed forces and military service, when deemed necessary.

30/04/1998 1 Conscription

conscription does not exist

Conscription has never existed since gaining independence in 1981.

Legislation allows for the introduction of conscription when voluntary enlistment fails to achieve the requisite number of recruits. This has never been the case as there are, in fact, more applications to join the armed forces than actually needed. [2]

recruitment

Minimum enlistment age is 18.

30/04/1998 1 Conscription

conscription does not exist

Conscription has never existed since gaining independence in 1966.

Barbados is one of only two Eastern Caribbean states to maintain standing armed forces.

recruitment

No information available.

2 Conscientious objection

The government stated in 1987 that, as conscription does not exist, the question of "conscientious Objection to military service" therefore does not arise.

30/04/1998 1 Conscription

conscription does not exist

Conscription has never existed since gaining independence in 1973.

recruitment

No information available.

2 Conscientious objection

The right to conscientious objection is not legally recognized.

The government stated in 1989: "There is no provision in the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas which is specific to conscientious objection to military service".

30/04/1998 1 Conscription

conscription does not exist

Conscription has never existed since gaining independence in 1981.

Antigua and Barbuda is one of only two Eastern Caribbean states to maintain standing armed forces.

recruitment

No information available.

2 Conscientious objection

There is no legal provision for conscientious objection.

The government of Antigua and Barbuda stated in 1994 that the issue of conscientious objection does not apply, as military service is voluntary in Antigua and Barbuda.

28/04/1998 1 Conscription

conscription exists

The legal basis of conscription is the 1994 Law on Military Service and the 1997 Law On amendments and additions to the law of the Republic of Tajikistan on general military responsibilities and military service. [9]

Ever since the 1980s Tajikistan has suffered from a civil war, which heightened after gaining independence in 1991. The government and the Islamic opposition forces signed a latest peace treaty in June 1997, but the situation is still unstable.

28/04/1998 1 Conscription

conscription exists

Conscription is enshrined in art. 51 of the 1994 Constitution, which states: "The defence of the Republic of Uzbekistan is the duty of every citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan. All citizens are obliged to perform military service or alternative service in the way as detailed in law."

Its legal basis is the 1992 Law on Defence. [4]

military service

All men between the ages of 18 and 27 are liable for military service.

28/04/1998 1 Conscription

conscription exists

Conscription is enshrined in art. 31 of the 1995 Constitution, which states: "Defence of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the duty of every citizen of the republic. The citizens of the republic perform military service as laid down by law."

The present legal basis of conscription is the 1992 Military Service Act.

military service

All men above the age of 18 are liable for military service.

The length of military service is two years. [5]

Reserve obligations apply.

25/04/1998 1 Conscription

conscription exists

Conscription exists since 1946.

Conscription is enshrined in art. 40 of the Constitution, which states: "(I) All citizens have an obligation to carry out their sacred duty to defend the security of the homeland and to respect its Constitution and the socialist union system. (II) Military service is compulsory and is regulated by law."

The present legal basis of conscription is the 1953 National Service Act.

25/04/1998 1 Conscription

conscription not enforced

Conscription was suspended in April 1992. [4]

Under the 1976 Conscription Law all men over 18 were liable for two years' military service. Legal provisions for reintroducing military service still apply, as the Conscription Law has not been officially repealed. [1]

There are provisions for compulsory military training for the People's Army, a 20,000 strong militia launched in 1987 to assist the regular armed forces.

The Commission on Human Rights,

Bearing in mind that it is recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person, as well as the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and the right not to be discriminated against,

21/04/1998 1 Conscription

conscription exists

Conscription exists since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. The present legal basis of conscription is the 1986 National Defence Service Law.

military service

All Jewish and Druze men and all Jewish women are liable for military service between the ages of 17 and 50. [1]

Military service lasts for three years in the case of men, and two years in the case of women. It lasts longer for officers and certain specialists, such as doctors and nurses.