Conscientious objector

This article is about freedom of conscience in the military. For conscientious objection in medicine, see Conscience clause in medicine in the United States and Conscientious objection to abortion. For the documentary film about Desmond Doss, see The Conscientious Objector.
"Objector" redirects here. For the 1966 Australian television play, see Objector (Australian Playhouse).

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1780 caricature of a press gang
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A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service"[1] on the grounds of freedom of conscience or religion.[2] The term has also been extended to objecting to working for the military–industrial complex due to a crisis of conscience.[3] 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.[4]

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".[5] This was re-affirmed on April 22, 1998, when resolution 1998/77 recognized that "persons [already] performing military service may develop conscientious objections".[6][7][8][9]

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ "International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights". Retrieved 15 May 2008.
  3. ^ "Confessions of a Military Industrial Complex Conscientious Objector". OpEdNews. Archived from the original on 27 April 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  4. ^ "Campaigns: International Day on Conscientious Objection". Archived from the original on 25 June 2014. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ 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.