International Conscientious Objection Day

1 December - Prisoners for Peace Day This year's focus: conscientious objection in Finland

The special edition of WRI's The Broken Rifle, incorporating the annual Prisoners for Peace Honour Roll, is available online in English, German, French, and Spanish. Please contact the WRI Office if you require print copies, or feel free to download the material from our website, and make your own copies.

This is a summary of the Constitutional Court Decision. Here you can find the full version

Background of the Case

From Peace News Jun-Aug 2004

For the third time, War Resisters' International organised an international training and action for International Conscientious Objectors' Day. After the Balkans and Israel, the focus of this years' activities was Chile and Latin America - with the central activities taking place in Santiago de Chile. Andreas Speck, WRI's CO Campaigning Worker reports from Santiago.

This is a summarised version of the Supreme Court Decision. Here you can see the full version

2004Do2965 Delivered on July 15, 2004*

Violation of the Military Service Act Main Issues

[1] The meaning of a "justifiable cause" under Article 88(1) of the Military Service Act, a punishment provision for evasion of enlistment
[2] The scope of protection and the nature of the freedom of conscience under Article 19 of the Constitution

"Social Militarisation in Latin America: experiences of resistance to the New World Order"
and International nonviolent action training

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Ni Casco Ni Uniforme
Rob

Although War Resisters' International's focus for International Conscientious Objectors' Day is Chile and Latin America, activities in different countries obviously respond also to the local situation, while drawing attention to the focus region at the same time.

Britain

There will be a memorial event for conscientious objectors past and present at the commemorative stone for conscientious objectors in Tavistock Square, central London, on 15 May. The event will start at noon.

This is an - incomplete - list of groups in Latin America working on issues of conscientious objection and related areas.

Mexico

Conscription exists for men aged 18-40, recruitment is via ballot, as only 60000 recruits are needed from a pool of 975,000 men reaching conscription age annually. Conscientious objection is not recognised.

El Salvador

Conscription has not been enforced since the peace treaty of 1992. The right to conscientious objection is not recognised.

International Conscientious Objectors' Day is celebrated on 15 May since the early 1980's. It is a day to highlight the struggle of conscientious objectors for the right to conscientious objection, and against war and militarism, globally.

The disproportionate influence of militarism in Chile is not entirely due to Pinochet's military dictatorship (1973-90) but rather is a historical construction that has given character and form to the Chilean nation-state.

The focus of this year's International Conscientious Objectors' Day is a country - Chile - but also Latin America in general.

International Conscientious Objectors' Day 2004 focuses on conscientious objection in Chile and Latin America. Jointly with Ni Casco Ni Uniforme War Resisters' International is organising an international seminar and nonviolent action training in Santiago, culminating in an international nonviolent action on 15 May - International Conscientious Objectors' Day.

The activities will start with an international seminar “Social Militarisation in Latin America: Experiences of Resistance to the New World Order” at the Universidad Bolivariana in Santiago, Chile, on 10/11 May 2004.