Conscientious objection

Human rights of conscripts

1. The Assembly refers to its Resolution 1166 (1998) on the human rights of conscripts, in which it invites member states to allow conscripts to enjoy civil and social rights and to grant them a status of "citizen in uniform", in strict respect of the European Convention on Human Rights.

21/04/2015

South Sudan seceded from the Republic of Sudan in 2011. Prior to this, since 1983 there was a civil war in Sudan, fought between the Sudanese army and the Sudan People Liberation Army (SPLA). The civil war ended with the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement in 2005, and a referendum on self determination for the South of Sudan. There are disputed border territories and areas of conflict between Sudan and its neighbours including South Sudan (in Abyei, and Heglig) and Egypt to the North (in Hala'ib Triangle).

15/09/1998

In 1991 president Barre's government was overthrown by the United Somali Congress (USC) and the Somali National Movement (SNM). Since then there has been no central government in Somali and therefore no national armed forces. [5]

1 Conscription

conscription not enforced

It is believed that since there is no central government in Somalia, the national service programme of president Barre's government is no longer in existence.

11/09/1998 1 Conscription

conscription exists

In 1995 conscription was introduced in Uganda.

Conscription is enshrined in art. 17 of the 1995 constitution which states: "(1) It is the duty of every citizen of Uganda (...) (e) to defend Uganda and to render national service when necessary; (...).

10/09/1998

In 1994 a genocide took place in Rwanda, in which an estimated 850,000 people were killed. The genocide ended when the Rwandan Patriotic Army (RPA), the armed wing of the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), invaded Rwanda and defeated the government forces (FAR). The RPA are now the official Rwandan armed forces. [5] [9]

1 Conscription

conscription does not exist

Rwanda has no conscription. [8]

recruitment

The minimum legal recruitment age is 18.

10/09/1998 1 Conscription

conscription exists

Conscription is enshrined in section 4 (3) (b) of the 1968 Bermuda Constitution Order.

The legal basis of conscription is the 1965 Defence Act.

Military service is performed within the Bermuda Regiment, which has four roles: supporting the police in the preservation of public order, assisting in times of natural disaster, particularly hurricane relief, performing ceremonial duties and defending Bermuda from external threat.

22/08/1998

There has been an armed conflict in Sierra Leone since 1991, when rebel forces of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) invaded the country from Liberia and started a guerrilla war against the government.
In May 1997, President Kabbah's government was overthrown by an alliance of members of the armed forces and the RUF, led by major Koroma. A military invasion of Nigerian ECOMOG troops in February 1998 defeated Koroma's troops and re-installed Kabbah's government on 10 March 1998. Koroma and the RUF withdrew to the bush.

CCPR/C/79/Add.93
18 August 1998

(...)

17/08/1998

In 1991 Menghistu's Derg regime was overthrown by the Ethiopian Peoples' Democratic Revolutionary Front (EPDRF), which consisted of several liberation movements, such as the Tigray's People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF). A Transitional Government was formed, in which all liberation movements participated. The huge Menghistu army was demobilised and from its estimated 500,000 soldiers, nearly 400,000 underwent a re-orientation programme.

29/06/2009 Issues

The right to conscientious objection is not recognised.

Conscientious objectors are detained – often indefinitely – without trial.

Draft evaders face harsh punishment. In several cases relatives of draft evaders have been arrested to put pressure on the draft evader.

10/08/1998 1 Conscription

conscription does not exist

With the end of the system of apartheid and the election of Nelson Mandela as the first chosen president of South Africa, conscription, which was for whites only, was abolished. From January 1994 onwards South Africa moved on to a fully professional army.

10/08/1998 1 Conscription

conscription not enforced

At present the conscription situation is not quite clear. It is believed that although legislation provides for conscription, it is not enforced.

The 1980 constitution does not mention conscription and leaves it up to Parliament to fix the conditions of service in the armed forces.

According to a government statement in 1997 Zimbabwe has no compulsory military service. The statement suggests that the 1979 National Service Act provides for the introduction of conscription, if considered necessary.