Person refusing military service on moral grounds
A conscientious objector (often shortened to conchie )[1] is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service "[2] on the grounds of freedom of conscience or religion .[3] The term has also been extended to objecting to working for the military–industrial complex due to a crisis of conscience.[4] In some countries, conscientious objectors are assigned to an alternative civilian service as a substitute for conscription or military service.
A number of organizations around the world celebrate the principle on May 15 as International Conscientious Objection Day.[5]
On March 8, 1995, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights resolution 1995/83 stated that "persons performing military service should not be excluded from the right to have conscientious objections to military service".[6] This was re-affirmed on April 22, 1998, when resolution 1998/77 recognized that "persons [already] performing military service may develop conscientious objections".[7] [8] [9] [10]
^ "A Modern Adullam" . Yorkshire Evening Post . No. 8446. 8 October 1917. p. 2 – via British Newspaper Archive .
^ On July 30, 2001, explicit clarification of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Article 18 was made in the United Nations Human Rights Committee general comment 22, Para. 11: "Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief. Framework for communications. Conscientious Objection" . Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Archived from the original on 6 January 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2012 .
^ "International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights" . Retrieved 15 May 2008 .
^ "Confessions of a Military Industrial Complex Conscientious Objector" . OpEdNews . Archived from the original on 27 April 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2017 .
^ "Campaigns: International Day on Conscientious Objection" . Archived from the original on 25 June 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014 .
^ UN Commission on Human Rights (8 March 1995). "UN Commission on Human Rights, Conscientious objection to military service., 8 March 1995, E/CN.4/RES/1995/83 (See point #2)" . UN Commission on Human Rights. Retrieved 2 December 2009 .
^ United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (22 April 1998). "Conscientious objection to military service; Commission on Human Rights resolution 1998/77; see preamble "Aware..." " . United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Archived from the original on 19 November 2018. Retrieved 8 December 2009 .
^ "Conscientious objection to military service; E/CN.4/RES/1998/77; See introductory paragraph" . UN Commission on Human Rights. 22 April 1998. Retrieved 9 December 2009 .
^ "Conscientious objection to military service, Commission on Human Rights resolution 1998/77, Navigation to document: press "next" four times, see bottom listing, and at the right choose letter for language ("E" for English) Document: CHR 54th 4/22/1998E/CN.4/RES/1998/77" . United Nations Human Rights, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. 1998. Retrieved 24 April 2008 .
^ D. CHRISTOPHER DECKER; AND LUCIA FRESA (29 March 2001). "THE STATUS OF CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION UNDER ARTICLE 4 OF THE EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS, 33 N.Y.U. J. INT'L L. & POL. 379 (2000); See pages 412–424, (or PDF pages 34–36)" (PDF) . New York University School of Law, Issues – Volume 33. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 November 2011. Retrieved 2 December 2009 .