European Bureau for Conscientious Objection

Le Bureau européen pour l’objection de conscience (EBCO) présente son Rapport annuel 2017 sur l’objection de conscience au service militaire en Europe, à l’occasion de la Journée internationale des droits humains (10 décembre).

Brussels, 8 December 2017

In view of the International Human Rights Day (December 10^th) the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) publishes its new Annual Report “Conscientious Objection to Military Service in Europe 2017”.

Le Bureau européen pour l’objection de conscience (EBCO) a tenu son assemblée générale 2017 le 4 novembre au Centre multimedia communautaire chypriote, dans la zone tampon de l’ONU entre les deux parties de Nicosie, la dernière capitale divisée d’Europe.

Brussels, 10 November 2017

The 2017 General Assembly of the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) was held on 4^th November in the Cyprus Community Media Centre (CCMC) in the UN buffer zone between the two parts of Nicosia, the last divided capital in Europe, in Cyprus.

Brussels, 31 May 2017

The European Bureau for Conscientious Objection expresses its indignation for the forthcoming trial of Panagiotis Makris by the 3-membered Military Court of Thessaloniki on Thursday, June 1^st, for an offence of “insubordination” since 1990!
 

Βρυξέλλες, 20 Μαρτίου 2017

Το Ευρωπαϊκό Γραφείο για την Αντίρρηση Συνείδησης (EBCO), με την ευκαιρία της ανοιξιάτικης Γενικής του Συνέλευσης, υπενθυμίζει τις υποσχέσεις της ελληνικής κυβέρνησης για αντιμετώπιση των προβλημάτων στη νομοθεσία και τις διαδικασίες σχετικά με την αντίρρηση συνείδησης στην στρατιωτική θητεία, και προσφέρει τη βοήθειά του.

Brussels, 20 March 2017

The European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO), on the occasion of its spring General Assembly, recalls promises by the Greek Government to address shortcomings in its legislation and procedures regarding conscientious objection to military service, and offers its assistance. 

An anti-military march of Greek and Turkish Cypriots broke into the buffer zone in the old town of Nicosia on Saturday demanding the reunification and demilitarisation of Cyprus. Some 100 protesters marched from Sarai Square in northern Nicosia, through the Ledra Street crossing before breaking through a gate and walking into the buffer zone in the old town.

Athens 14/12/2016

On Monday 12 of December, a few days after the anniversary marking 30 years from the first declaration of refusal to enlist on ideological grounds of Mihalis Maragkakis, three new conscientious objectors proceeded to an unprecedented, as for Greece, massive refusal to be examined by the Conscience Examination Committee.

Athens 10/12/2016

The Association of Greek Conscientious Objectors calls on those who have submitted applications in order to be recognized as conscientious objectors and perform alternative service, to boycott, from now on, the Conscience Examination Committee. The existence of a committee, which, like another Holy Inquisition, interrogates the conscientious objectors, violates any sense of the protected right to freedom of conscience. 

1st of December - Solidarity mesage from Nicosia

Article communicated by EBCO's Turkish member organisation VR-DER on 25 Nov 2016
To the press and the public:

While the society is being tried to be made more hostile within each other day by day with the militarist and nationalist speeches that have increased after the termination of the solution process, the militarist pressure on the society is now changing shape.

FOREWORD by Friedhelm Schneider, EBCO President (download report) 

In January 2016 two dates illustrate the contradictory developments which continue to mark the situation of conscientious objectors in Europe: 

Brussels, 13 November 2016

The European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO, http://www.ebco-beoc.org) presents its Annual Report 2016 on Conscientious Objection in Europe on Saturday 19/11/2016 in Athens, Greece (at 18:00 at the WELCOMMON Community Center for Refugees’ Temporary Hosting and Social Inclusion, 4 Kapodistriou Street, 10682, Athens).