This Friday is International Conscientious Objection Day

This Friday, 15th May, is International Conscientious Objection Day. This year, War Resisters’ International office, together with Connection e.V., has called for an online action with your video messages celebrating this day, sharing your stories as conscientious objectors (COs) as well as your solidarity messages with COs. All these videos will be available tomorrow on International Day of Conscientious Objection on our YouTube channel Refuse to Kill.

This year, with International Conscientious Objection Day, we particularly draw attention to those who have to leave their countries of origin due to forced recruitment and who are looking for protection in other countries. They are denied the human right of conscientious objection. But to flee from war and forced recruitment is generally not seen as a reason for asylum. Women and men who refuse compulsory recruitment to the military need protection!

The contributions we received from all over the world are varied and colourful, just as varied are the reasons why people from different countries make the decision to refuse war and military service, sometimes at great risk. To date, we have received contributions from Angola, Belgium, Chile, Colombia, Cyprus, Eritrea, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and United States.”

For more updates, follow us on Twitter and Facebook as well as on WRI and Connection e.V.'s websites, and join us tomorrow with your posts on social media with the hashtag #CODay2020.