Conscientious objector

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.

[1] "A Modern Adullam". Yorkshire Evening Post. No. 8446. 8 October 1917. p. 2 – via British Newspaper Archive.

[2] 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.

[3] "International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights". Retrieved 15 May 2008.

[4] "Confessions of a Military Industrial Complex Conscientious Objector". OpEdNews. Archived from the original on 27 April 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2017.

[5] "Campaigns: International Day on Conscientious Objection". Archived from the original on 25 June 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.

[6] 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.

[7] 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.

[8] "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.

[9] "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-10] 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.

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