Cyprus Consciention Objection Initiative
The initiative works to support and solve the problems of all persons that see militarism as an obstacle in front of peace, democratization and establishment of a truly civilian administration. It further adopts the slogan "our duty for our homeland should be 'peace' and conscientious objection should be our right".
The initiative struggles for abolishing of laws that consider any anti-militarist stance as "alienating the public from military service" and therefore, illegal. There are no conditions that justify the right of conscientious objection -- which is a defence of life -- to be considered a subject of prosecution by the militarist establishment. It is also against the military court system which even the soldiers do not deserve, and works for its abolishing according to the principle of a single rule of law.
It works to establish the right of conscientious objection in the constitution itself, as it is now considered a "basic human right" by the modern civilization. The compulsory military service in Cyprus should be re-organized according to the European Union norms and United Nations advisory decisions. We demand that the 74th article of the constitution of the administration of the northern part of Cyprus which defines compulsory military service as "a duty to the homeland" of all citizens is changed to include a clause to the effect that allows the right of conscientious objection. For clarity, we call it to be amended as indicated in bold (following the example of the constitution of Germany):
National Service: Article 74
(1) National service in the armed forces shall be the right and sacred duty of every citizen. However, no person shall be compelled against his conscience to render military service involving the use of arms.
(2) Conditions relating to national service shall be regulated by law
The initiative does not accept violence as a means to solve any conflict; neither does it accept its promotion as such. It refuses compulsory military service in general.
The initiative supports all individuals who refuse military service regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, nationality or political views. It works against the male-dominated mentality and works to overcome the military establishment's inhumane stance towards the gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transsexuals (LGBT). It works together with LGBT organizations and groups towards this goal.
We call everyone to join "The Initiative for Conscientious Objection in Cyprus (north)" to face the reality of the system, the war and those in power to establish the right for conscientious objection.
This call is for everyone without any discrimination of gender. To all those who lost a piece of themselves by sending their children to wars in Cyprus, those young people who could not see a bright future due to the prospect of a military service, those in exile away from their homeland, in summary to everyone who suffered due to militarism.
This is a call to face all obstacles and to organize against wars, aggression, occupations and militarism in general.
Aseistakieltäytyjäliitto (The Finnish Union of Conscientious Objectors, AKL) is an anti-militarist peace organization. It acts as an advocacy organization for conscientious objectors (people serving non-military service, total objectors, reserve objectors). It is also an open anti-militarist youth organization that deals with other issues than those directly related to conscientious objection. Anyone, regardless of age or gender, is welcome to join!
Association of Greek Conscientious Objectors
email: arnisi@antirrisies.gr
DEMANDS REGARDING THE OLD CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS AND INSUBORDINATE
2) DEMANDS REGARDING THE INSTITUTION OF THE ALTERNATE CIVILIAN SOCIAL SERVICE
2.2) DEMANDS REGARDING THE RECOGNITION OF THE CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS
DEMANDS REGARDING THE PERFORMANCE OF THE ALTERNATIVE CIVILIAN SERVICE
Member of EBCO, Italian branch of War Resisters’ International, Via Spagna, 8, 37123 Verona - Italy Phone +39 45 800 9803
an@nonviolenti.org , www.nonviolenti.org, http://www.azionenonviolenta.it
Introduction
The Movimento Nonviolento (MN) is an Italian NGO founded in 1962 by Aldo Capitini.
The NGO’s goal is the rejection of violence, at the individual, group and international level, from social life. Therefore, MN thoroughly rejects war, economic exploitation, the system of oppression and all types of discrimination.
Its founders were Aldo Capitini (1989-1968), an Italian philosopher and one of the first that studied and promoted Gandhi’s nonviolence in Italy, and Pietro Pinna the first Italian conscientious objector to military service for nonviolent reasons. MN originated after the first Perugia-Assisi march, another Capitini’s idea: to refuse the war, thousands of people marched 30 kilometres from Perugia to Assisi in September 1961.
Purpose and Tools
Main purposes:
1. The integral opposition to war; 2. the struggle against economic exploitation and social injustice, political oppression and all forms of authoritarianism, privilege and nationalism, discrimination based on race, geographical origin, sex and religion 3. the development of associated life with respect for each individual culture, and the creation of bodies of democracy from below for the direct and responsible management by all of power, understood as a community service; 4. the preservation of the values of culture and the natural environment, which are precious assets for the present and the future, and whose destruction and contamination are another form of human violence.
Methodology: Nonviolence in theory and practice.
Tools: educational activities, the importance of small groups, the use of persuasion, acts of protest, civil disobedience, anitmilitarist campaigns and so on.
Where we are
National venue: Casa per la Nonviolenza (Nonviolence House) in Verona.
Local branches: Torino, Brescia, Mantova, Venezia, Vicenza, Ferrara, Reggio-Emilia, Modena, Livorno, Ghilarza, Roma-Fiumicino, Bari, Caserta, Trento, Pordenone, Palermo
Main activities:
• Publishing house
• Research centre
• Conferences and Workshops
• Training courses and summer camps
• Peace demonstrations and cultural exhibitions
• Commitment in local, national and international networks
Main current Nonviolent Campaigns:
Campaign aiming to create a nonviolent and unarmed Department at premiership level (National political level).
It was launched by the Movimento Nonviolento in the aftermath of the Russian attack on Ukraine on 24 February 2022: a declaration of concrete support for conscientious objectors on the warring sides. Next steps: a legal mission and one to support the COs movement in Russia, strengthening the partnership with the Belarusian nonviolent exiles led by Olga Karatch, continuing to support the legal defence of COs in Ukraine, a gathering in Italy of women peace activists from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.
The Movement of conscientious objectors to military service (MCO) was founded in 2014 in the format of an initiative group. The mission of the Movement defined as "the movement towards a free world without violence". In their activities, the members of the Movement adhere to the following principles: human rights, non-violence, non-discrimination, consciousness and solidarity.
The main goals of MCO are:
1. Support of conscientious objectors by preparing methodological materials, providing juridical advice, and moral support.
2. Empowerment of conscientious objectors to protect their rights and help other conscientious objectors.
3. Forming a community of conscientious objectors.
4. Protection of public interests, such as: — opposition to militarization, particularly, the militarization of children and youth, — refusal of compulsory military service, — popularization and democratization of the institute of ACS, — transparency and effectiveness of the military administration, — peacebuilding. The Movement does not represent any specific region of the Russian Federation, it is an online initiative.
The Center for the Development of Democracy and Human Rights (CDDHR) was created in 1998 as an independent non-profit non-governmental organization in Russia. CDDHR’s mission is the development of effective democratic institutions and the creation of sustainable mechanisms for human rights protection in Russia by influencing public policy in these areas, creating conditions for civic participation in decision making from local communities to the international level and empowering individuals and groups to play a more influential role in the communities they belong to. CDDHR strives to make democracy work for people living in Russia and to assist them in finding in democracy a practical meaning relevant for their lives.
The Russian-wide NGO "Committee of Soldiers’ Mothers of Russia" was established in April 1989. The Soldiers’ Mothers’ Committee of Russia was registered as a Russian-wide public organization at the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on June, 1st 1991.
Zivildienst promotes civilian and social commitment. (After 33 years of commitment to, and the achieving of the recognition of conscientious objection in switzerland, zivildienst.ch fusionend with the swiss umbrella association for alternative civilian service CIVIVA (www.civiva.ch) in March 2014. For support or counseling please contact www.civiva.ch)
Areas of work are:
Catagories are:
CIVIVA was founded in 2010 in Bern (Switzerland) by community service friendly and pacifist organizations, as the Swiss Civilian Service Umbrella Federation.
CIVIVA strives to achieve a voluntary civilian alternative service that is fair, honoured and by the state and society and open to all inhabitants.
CIVIVA commits itself to the concerns of Conscientious Objectors (CO) performing obligatory civilian service (Zivis) and institutions benefitting from their services.
CIVIVA demands good conditions of access to civilian service for COs. In particular this means no specific examination or other barriers, but a free choice between civilian and military service.
CIVIVA demands fair conditions for Zivis: the same service duration as in military service, and fair wages. This ensures that Zivis are motivated and committedAreas of work are:
Categories are:
Conscientious Objection Watch monitors and reports the current situation of conscientious objectors in Turkey, the human rights violations they are experiencing, and the judicial processes they are going through. The initiative advocates for the recognition of the right to conscientious objection in Turkey.
The initiative aims to increase public awareness on the right to conscientious objection in Turkey, inform the international community about the situation of conscientious objectors in Turkey, and develop an effective advocacy mechanism for the recognition of the right.
For contact: vicdaniretizleme@gmail.com Social media: https://www.facebook.com/vicdaniretizleme , https://twitter.com/vrizleme , https://www.instagram.com/vicdaniretizleme/
War Resisters' International (WRI) is an international anti-war organization with members and affiliates in over thirty countries. Its headquarters are in London, UK.
War Resisters' International was founded in Bilthoven, Netherlands in 1921 under the name "Paco". WRI adopted a founding declaration that has remained unchanged: “ War is a crime against humanity. I am therefore determined not to support any kind of war and to strive for the removal of all causes of war. ”
It adopted the broken rifle as its symbol in 1931.
CPTI is an international peace movement focussed on "Taxes for peace not war," seeking to direct taxes away from preparation for war and towards peace building. Its mission arises from the deep affront to our consciences that people are made to participate in war as combatants, civilian victims and through taxation.
The ethical principle of freedom of conscience, a moral imperative governing the behaviour of an individual, is central to the objectives and work of CPTI.