European Bureau for Conscientious Objection

Don't give us flowers, better to go out and lay them in memory of the dead civilians of Ukraine (about 300 people lost, there are children among them), against whom our country has unleashed aggressive military actions. Or lay the flowers gifted at the monuments to the fallen: flowers are better than bullets.

Перевод информации о нашей акции 8 марта на английский! Приглашайте людей из других стран присоединиться к нам. (Übersetzen Sie unsere Informationen zur 8. März-Kampagne! Laden Sie Menschen ein, sich uns anzuschließen.)

After the deployment of Russian troops to the separatist regions of Luhansk and Donetsk and
their recognition by Russia as independent states on Tuesday, this was followed Thursday
morning by Russia's invasion of other parts of Ukraine in violation of international law on
the orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Our solidarity is with the people of Ukraine
and all who will suffer the consequences of this war.

On December 6th, the UN Human Rights Committee announced their decision on the case of conscientious objector Lazaros Petromelidis from Greece. The Committee found violations of the articles 9(1), 12(2), 14(7), and 18(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and asked Greece to take necessary measures addressing these violations. As the organisations signing this statement, we welcome this decision of the Human Rights Committee.

The Association for Conscientious Objection, together with four international organisations, informed the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on the developments regarding conscientious objection in Turkey.

(05.11.2021) In response to a so-called action plan by the Turkish government, theAssociation for Conscientious Objection, based in Istanbul, Turkey,  together with a number of other organisations, submitted a statement to the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers on Wednesday to "request the Turkish government to take legislative measures without delay to recognize the right to conscientious objection to military service." (...more)

Members of the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) participated both in-person and remotely at the second IPB World Peace Congress “(Re) Imagine our World: Action for Peace and Justice” in Barcelona, on 15-17 October 2021.

With the opportunity of October 2nd, International Non-Violence Day, EBCO organised an action in solidarity with Ukrainian conscientious objector and journalist Ruslan Kotsaba, at the Mission of Ukraine to the European Union in Brussels, calling Ukraine to immediately stop the prosecution of pacifist Ruslan Kotsaba.

On the occasion of the International Day of Peace 2021 on September 21^st, the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) emphasizes that conscientious objection to military service is as well a basic human right as a tangible contribution to peace; it is a concrete act of rejecting war and violence, and promoting peace and universal human values.

Ukrainian conscientious objector and journalist Ruslan Kotsaba will be on trial again on September 20th. Support Kotsaba with your actions ahead of his trial!

Kotsaba, president of the Ukrainian Pacifist Movement, is accused of treason and obstructing military operations for his expressions calling for peace in a video he posted in 2015. In the video, Kotsaba was calling to boycott military mobilisation for the conflict in Eastern Ukraine.