EBCO contribution in the European Parliament public hearing on conscientious objection as a human right and in particular, Russian conscientious objectors

EBCO PRESS RELEASE

EBCO contribution in the European Parliament public hearing on conscientious objection as a human right and in particular, Russian conscientious objectors

Brussels, 2 March 2023

Sam Biesemans, Vice-President of the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) participated today as speaker to the European Parliament public hearing “Conscientious objection as a human right and in particular Russian conscientious objectors”, chaired by Udo Bullmann, Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights.

Sam Biesemans introduced first of all EBCO and the human right to conscientious objection to preparations for, and participation in, war and any other type of military activity as a fundamental human right. He underlined that the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union does not safeguard sufficiently the respect of this right. He highlighted the previous relevant resolutions of the European Parliament and called for a new one to reflect the current situation. He also presented the joint international #ObjectWarCampaign: Russia, Belarus, Ukraine: Protection and asylum for deserters and conscientious objectors to military service (https://ebco-beoc.org/node/545). He finally urged for the immediate and unconditional release of Ukrainian Christian conscientious objector Vitaly Alkeseenko (https://ebco-beoc.org/node/553).

You can watch the video recording of the event in English here: https://youtu.be/Gl6k2diTtYo

More languages are available (from 10:29:43 until the end) here:

https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/webstreaming/droi-committee-meeting_20230302-0900-COMMITTEE-DROI

#ObjectWarCampaign: Russia, Belarus, Ukraine: Protection and asylum for deserters and conscientious objectors to military service

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND INTERVIEWS please contact (ENGLISH, FRENCH, DUTCH, ITALIAN): Sam Biesemans, EBCO Vice-President: +32 477268893; sambiesemans@skynet.be

More info and programme: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/conscientious-objection-as-a-human-right/product-details/20230221CAN68896

European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights

Hearing: Conscientious objection as a human right and in particular, Russian conscientious objectors

Brussels, 2 March 2023 10.15-11.30, Room - SPAAK 4B001

PROGRAMME

10.15 Introductory remarks

· Udo Bullmann, Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights

10.20 Presentations

· Michael Wiener, Human Rights officer, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

· Sam Biesemans, Vice-President, European Bureau for Conscientious Objection

· Sergey Krivenko, Member of the Board of "Memorial International" and head of the Russian NGO "Grazhdanin, armia, pravo" ("Citizen, Army, Law")

· Saša Belik, Advocacy officer, Sphere Foundation

· Milana Shesterikova, Head of International Office, Russian Youth Democratic Movement “Vesna”

· Kanstantsin Staradubets, External communication manager, Human Rights Center “Viasna”

10.55 Q&A

11.25 Concluding remarks by the Chair

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The European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) was founded in Brussels in 1979 as an umbrella structure for national associations of conscientious objectors in the European countries to promote the right to conscientious objection to preparations for, and participation in, war and any other type of military activity as a fundamental human right. EBCO enjoys participatory status with the Council of Europe since 1998 and is a member of its Conference of International Non-Governmental Organisations since 2005. EBCO is entitled to lodge collective complaints concerning the European Social Charter of the Council of Europe since 2021. EBCO provides expertise and legal opinions on behalf of the Directorate General of Human Rights and Legal Affairs of the Council of Europe. EBCO is involved in drawing up the annual report of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs of the European Parliament on the application by the Member States of its resolutions on conscientious objection and civilian service, as determined in the “Bandrés Molet & Bindi Resolution” of 1994. EBCO is a full member of the European Youth Forum since 1995.