EBCO

The European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) expresses its deed disappointment over the bill introduced by the Ministry of National Defence of Greece concerning inter alia issues about conscientious objectors to military service (COs).

“It is a lost opportunity that the bill introduces only minor changes to the relevant legislation, and fails to bring the Greek legislation about conscientious objectors in line with the international human rights law and standards”, Friedhelm Schneider, EBCO's President stated today.

Erik studied law, and became a lawyer. Coming from a catholic family he joined the Quakers. He was a pacifist and a peace-activist.

Οι αντιρρησίες συνείδησης στην Ελλάδα υφίστανται σοβαρές παραβιάσεις των ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων τους όπως καταγγέλλουν επί δεκαετίες οι διεθνείς φορείς. Επισυνάπτεται το Υπόμνημα σε μορφή pdf

Brussels, 2 January 2019

16 October 2018

Umut Fırat Süvarioğulları has to be free! Statement of VR-DER (Turkish Conscientious Objection Association) calling for the release of conscientious objector Umut Firat after 25 years of incarceration.

On the occasion of the International Day of Peace on 21 September 2018, 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.

Βρυξέλλες 29 Μαΐου 2018

Joint statement of 29 May 2018
Bearing in mind the scandalous fact that despite numerous appeals, Greek authorities have, for several decades, violated the human right of conscientious objection to military service, the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection and War Resisters’ International support the renewed call for a boycott of the Conscience Examination Committee (the special advisory committee which examines applications for conscientious objector status), which has been issued by the Association of Greek Conscientious Objectors.

Twelve years after the groundbreaking judgement of the European Court of Human Rights in favour of the Turkish conscientious objector Osman Murat Ülke the Turkish government continues to deny the comprehensive implementation of the mentioned ruling. Until now neither the individual nor the general legislative measures requested by the judgement have been fully executed: In November 2017 Ülke’s case has been reopened by the Prosecutor in Bilecik, and there is still no provision in Turkish law that would guarantee the human right of conscientious objection to military service.

Yannis-Vasilis Yaylali is a peace activist and journalist in Turkey, jailed by the Turkish government since April 22nd of 2017. He is a Turkish citizen of Greek origin born in the Bafra area of the Black Sea coast.
Mr Friedhelm Schneider from the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) sent the statement below about Yannis-Vasilis Yaylali and Meral Geylani.

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.