Quakers in Britain have joined other faith and civil society groups calling on the Russian and Ukrainian governments to respect the rights of conscientious objectors.
#peace #propeace #antiwar #ConscientiousObjectors #ConscientiousObjection #pacifist #pacifists #pacifism
Dozens of #remembrance events involving white poppies took place around the UK on Remembrance Day and Remembrance Sunday - the highest number in at least five years.
There were white poppy events in Bath, Bradford, Brighton, Edinburgh, Ipswich, Leamington Spa, Leeds, Oxford, Peterborough and many other places. In several towns and cities, such as Leicester, white poppies have become an established part of official remembrance events.
The National Alternative Remembrance Ceremony in London had the highest turnout in recent years, with around 200 people gathering in front of the memorial stone for #ConscientiousObjectors in Tavistock Square.
Those attending heard powerful speeches by Pat Gaffney from Pax Christi and Richard Kuper from Jews for Justice for Palestinians. Isabel Kelly read a deeply moving message of grief and hope from the Parents Circle – Families Forum, a joint Israeli-Palestinian organisation of families who have lost loved ones to the ongoing conflict.
12 noon - 1pm, Remembrance Sunday 12th November
Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9EX
Please join us for the National Alternative Remembrance Ceremony to remember all #victims of #war, both #civilian and #military, past and present, and commit to working for #peace.This year's event will focus on the terrible events unfolding in #Israel and #Palestine, as well as the extraordinary work of peace campaigners on both sides and internationally. With speakers including:
Isabel Kelly, with a message from the Parents Circle – Families Forum (PCFF), a joint #Israeli - #Palestinian organisation of over 600 families, all of whom have lost an immediate family member to the ongoing #conflict.
Pat Gaffney, vice predisent of Pax Christi and a member of Women in Black London. Pat will speak about Pax Christi's ongoing work with peace campaigners in Israel and Palestine.
Richard Kuper from Jews for Justice for Palestinians (JJP), an organisation closely involved in recent demonsrations calling for a #ceasefire in #Gaza.
The national ceremony takes place every year in front of the memorial stone for #ConscientiousObjectors in Tavistock Square. We will observe two minutes' silence and white poppy wreaths will be laid on the memorial in memory of all victims of war.
All welcome - no need to book.
Please take a moment to share the event - www.ppu.org.uk/civicrm/event/info%3Fid%3D367%26reset%3D1
We are all shocked that the Security Service of Ukraine broke into the apartment of Yurii Sheliazhenko yesterday, August 3rd 2023, and conducted an illegal search and seizure operation, finding nothing criminal and taking his phone, his computer, as well as some documents of the #Ukrainian #Pacifist Movement. We strongly protest about the harassment of Yurii Sheliazhenko, who is summoned to interrogation on August 7th, 8th and 9th 2023.
We remind the Ukrainian government that #pacifism is not a crime in democratic states. We demand that the charge against Yurii Sheliazhenko is immediately dropped, and that #HumanRights are fully protected, including the right to freedom of expression and the right to #ConscientiousObjection to #military service, which is inherent in the right to #freedom of thought, #conscience and #religion, guaranteed, amongst others, under Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights, as well as under Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which is non-derogable even in a time of public emergency, as stated in Article 4(2) of ICCPR.
Yurii Sheliazhenko is a well-known #ConscientiousObjector, pacifist, human rights defender and lawyer. We strongly condemn all actions of harassment and all attempts of intimidation against him and the Ukrainian Pacifist Movement, as well as all cases of forced recruitment and even abduction of #conscripts to the involved armies, and all #persecutions of #ConscientiousObjectors, deserters and non-violent #anti-war protestors.
#Turkey still does not recognize the right to #ConscientiousObjection. #ConscientiousObjectors are not only prosecuted and punished for #military conscientious objection or desertion, but also face many other rights violations and restrictions, including heavy fines, repeated prosecutions on the same charges, violations of their right to education, voting rights, and work, restrictions on their freedom of movement and the “civil deaths” of conscientious objectors.
This map shows examples of #ConscientiousObjectors from around the world and across #history, highlighting the global scope of their #struggle and the treatment they have faced. We are currently adding more women COs, who are often overlooked. If you are interested in this research or know of more examples or information to add, please get in touch at mail@ppu.org.uk
Join us on 15 May: International Conscientious Objectors' Day
Every year on 15 May we remember #ConscientiousObjectors, past and present.
Around the world many people are imprisoned or forced to flee their home countries for refusing to join armed forces. On 15 May, we will stand in #solidarity with them, as well as celebrating the memory of those throughout #history who have resisted #conscription.
This year we will be showing our support especially to COs resisting the current #conflict in #Russia, #Ukraine and #Belarus.
In the UK, you can join the National Ceremony either in London or online: 1.00-2.00pm, Monday 15 May
Everyone is welcome to join the National Ceremony, which takes place every year in front of the #memorial stone for conscientious objectors in Tavistock Square, London.
For those who can't make it in person, you can watch the event online.
The Peace Pledge Union works with a coalition of peace and #HumanRights organisations on this joint ceremony.
With contributions from:
- #Belarusian peace #activist Olga Karach from Our House, who will send a message on the situation faced by COs in Belarus today.
- Semih Sapmaz from #War Resisters' International, speaking on the global #struggle of COs around the world.
- Historian Ali Ronan, speaking on the often overlooked role of #women COs.
- Hosted by actor and playwright Michael Mears.
Speeches will be followed by a reading of COs' names from around the world. Flowers will be laid on the memorial stone, followed by a minute's silence.
Attend in person - Tavistock Square, London - 1pm Monday 15 May 2023. Or watch online - visit www.CO-Day.org at the time to watch the live stream.
There will be other CO Day events around the UK and the world.
Events to mark CO Day this year will be happening around the UK, in Edinburgh, Brighton, Leicester, Leeds and elsewhere. Please visit our events page to find one near you.
If you have any stories or experiences of #ConscientiousObjection, or are planning anything for CO Day, please get in touch at mail@ppu.org.uk. You can find out more at www.CO-Day.org, including many educational resources on conscientious objection, campaigns, music and videos.
500 conscientious objectors “competed to volunteer” to be “human guinea pigs” for “dangerous and life-threatening medical experiments seeking cures for malaria, infections hepatitis, atypical pneumonia and typhus."
#WWII #history #war #antiwar #peace #propeace #pacifist #pacifism #ConscientiousObjection #ConscientiousObjectors #science #medicine #famine #starvation
Dear friends,
I’m writing to you about our ongoing Object War Campaign (in support of deserters and conscientious objectors from #Russia, #Belarus and #Ukraine) and to ask for your support.
War Resisters’ International, together with Connection e.V., the International Fellowship of Reconciliation and the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection launched #ObjectWarCampaign on 21st September. Since then, we've been calling out to everyone to join this global effort to ensure the protection of conscientious objectors and deserters from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.
So far we have collected almost 7,000 signatures. Thanks to everyone who has joined our campaign.We accelerate our efforts to get more signatures before the end of this year and we need your support!
If you have not signed our petition yet, you can sign it here. We would also appreciate if you help us spread the word, share the campaign within your networks and post on social media with the hashtag #StandWithObjectors and #ObjectWarCampaign.
...
The petition is available on the WeMove.eu website in German, English, French, Italian and Greek.#ObjectWarCampaign highlights the importance of opening borders to those who oppose the war at great personal risk in their countries, and calls on everyone to support those who refuse to fight and kill.
The campaign is being supported by many organisations and groups. You can see a list of them here.
Every recruit can be a conscientious objector, every soldier a deserter. Let’s support those who refuse to kill and end war together!
#ObjectWarCampaign#StandWithObjectors
Merve Arkun
Right to Refuse to Kill Programme Intern
#war #antiwar #peace #propeace #pacifist #pacifism #HumanRights #ConscientiousObjectors #ConscientiousObjection
This Thursday, 1st December, is Prisoners for Peace Day, a day to show solidarity with those activists who have been imprisoned for their work for peace and conscientious objectors imprisoned for their refusal to take up arms.
This year, we want to highlight the situation of many people in Russia and Ukraine that are imprisoned or facing imprisonment for resisting the current war in Ukraine.
You can find the list of Prisoners for Peace here.
#antiwar #peace #propeace #pacifist #pacifism #HumanRights #ConscientiousObjectors #ConscientiousObjection
1st December is #Prisoners for #Peace Day. For over 60 years, War Resisters' International have, on this day, made known the names and stories of those imprisoned because of their actions for peace. Many are #ConscientiousObjectors, in gaol for refusing to join the #military. Others have taken #nonviolent actions to disrupt preparation for #war.
This day is a chance for you to demonstrate your #support for those individuals and their movements, by #writing to those whose #freedom has been taken away from them because of their work for peace.
On 15 September 2022 conscientious objector Vitaliy Vasyliovych Alekseienko, was found guilty of ‘evasion of military service during mobilisation' and sentenced to a year in prison. Alekseienko filed an appeal in which he asked to be released with a probation term. The Ivano-Frankivsk Court of Appeal has scheduled a hearing of his appeal on 17 November 2022.
Support Vitaliy Alekseinko and write to the court of appeal using our template letter here.
#ukraine #ConscientiousObjection #ConscientiousObjectors #peace #antiwar #pacifist #pacifism
We, Israeli youth, refuse to join the Israeli army and take part in the Israeli #occupation of the West Bank and #Gaza strip. We call out to all citizens of #Israel to open their eyes and see the policy of #oppression over the palestinian people carried out by the Israeli government. We object to the militaristic #education forced on us by the same oppressive policies, we object to the educational system teaching us to #hate our neighbors, and we object to the social norms that prohibits the educational system from sharing the true reality in the Palestinian territories with children and youth. We feel it is important to show there is another way. We all have the option to refuse to take part in the oppression and in the occupation and we can all make sure human rights, including physical and emotional #security, are provided without discrimination. Therefore we demand the following from the Israeli government:
Stop the killings of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip; Stop the ethnic cleansing in the territories and the transfer of Masafer Yatta; Stop the siege of the Gaza strip; Stop home demolitions; Stop administrative arrests and arrests of minors; Stop supporting settler's #violence towards Palestinians and start acting against it.
We demand a stop to the Israeli #military presence in the Palestinian territories and we demand giving the Palestinian people the right to #independence. We, Israeli #youth, born and raised in Israel, call on the Israeli public to see there is a better way to treat our neighbors, a human way that guarantees human rights for all. We demand an end to the Israeli occupation over the Palestinian territories and we declare today our refusal to take any part in it.
https://wri-irg.org/en/story/2022/statement-refusers-evyatar-einat-nave-and-shahar
In solidarity with Israeli occupation objectors, send them an email saying you support the objectors statement to end the occupation and the many practices Israel uses to violate Palestinians' rights in the West Bank and Gaza Strip!
Sign here: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/help-amplify-the-refusers-voice-2
Use this template to write to the conscientious objectors: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSedRdk8KZH1CG9UWBRiKf7RGcp2bowaN13KQruJAvh-Ook1aA/viewform
#ConscientiousObjection #peace #politics #Israel #Palestine #EthnicCleansing #HumanRights
Appeal to European Parliament and Parliamentary Assembly of Council of #Europe
In a joint appeal to members of the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, a broad civil society alliance from 20 countries has called on the #European #governments to grant protection and asylum to #Russian and #Belarusian as well as #Ukrainian #ConscientiousObjectors and deserters. They need immediate #protection and #asylum.
#antiwar #propeace #peace #ConscientiousObjection #HumanRights
On April 17, 2022, Ukrainian pacifists adopted a statement reposted here...
Ukrainian Pacifist Movement is gravely concerned about the active burning of bridges for a #peaceful #resolution of #conflict between #Russia and #Ukraine on both sides and signals of intentions to continue the #bloodshed indefinitely to achieve some sovereign ambitions.
We condemn the #Russian decision to invade Ukraine on 24 February 2022, which led to a fatal escalation and thousands of deaths, reiterating our #condemnation of the reciprocal #violations of the #ceasefire envisaged in Minsk agreements by Russian and #Ukrainian combatants in #Donbas prior to the escalation of Russian #aggression.
We condemn the mutual labeling of parties to the conflict as Nazi-alike enemies and #war criminals, stuffed into legislation, reinforced by the official #propaganda of extreme and irreconcilable #hostility. We believe that the law should build #peace, not incite war; and #history should give us examples how people can return to peaceful life, not excuses for continuing the war. We insist that accountability for crimes must be established by an independent and competent judicial body in due process of law, in result of unbiased and impartial investigation, especially in the most serious crimes, such as #genocide. We emphasize that the tragic consequences of military brutality must not be used to incite #hatred and justify new #atrocities, on the contrary, such #tragedies should cool the fighting spirit and encourage a persistent search for the most bloodless ways to end the war.
We condemn military actions on both sides, the hostilities which harm civilians. We insist that all shooting should be stopped, all sides should honor the memory of killed people and, after due grief, calmly and honestly commit to peace talks.
We condemn statements on the Russian side about the intention to achieve certain goals by military means if they cannot be achieved through #negotiations.
We condemn statements on the Ukrainian side that continuation of peace talks depends on winning the best negotiating positions at the battlefield.
We condemn the unwillingness of both sides to cease fire during the peace talks.
We condemn the practice of forcing #civilians to conduct military service, to perform military tasks and to support the army against the will of peaceful people in Russia and Ukraine. We insist that such practices, especially during hostilities, grossly violate the principle of distinction between militaries and civilians in international #humanitarian law. Any forms of contempt for the human right to conscientious objection to military service are unacceptable.
We condemn all military support provided by Russia and NATO countries for militant radicals in Ukraine provoking further escalation of the military #conflict.
We call on all peace-loving people in Ukraine and around the world to remain peace-loving people in all circumstances and to help others to be peace-loving people, to collect and disseminate knowledge about peaceful and #nonviolent way of life, to tell the #truth that unites peace-loving people, to #resist evil and #injustice without #violence, and debunk myths about necessary, beneficial, inevitable, and just war. We don’t call for any particular action now to ensure that peace plans will not be targeted by hatred and attacks of #militarists, but we are confident that #pacifists of the world have a good imagination and experience of practical realization of their best dreams. Our actions should be guided by hope for a peaceful and happy future, and not by fears. Let our peace work bring closer the future from dreams.
War is a crime against humanity. Therefore, we are determined not to support any kind of war and to strive for the removal of all causes of war.”
#CODay #peace #antiwar #pacifist #pacifism #ConscientiousObjectors #ConscientiousObjection
Author(s) Movement of Conscientious Objectors (Russia)
Dear conscientious objectors to military service, today we mark our #CO day while #war is being waged.As the war with #Ukraine began, the notion of refusing #military service in #Russia has become especially topical. Before the war, most #conscripts and their relatives did not associate military service as conscripts with actual #warfare. #Conscription appeared to be something akin to a sports camp with elements of military training.
Regardless of their political views, the healthy feeling of fear of participating in warfare in the territory of a foreign country forces people to file appeals for alternative civilian service and to protect their right not to serve in the #army by other means.
For some of the #objectors to military service, the chance to specify in their application that they object to Russia's war in Ukraine is important. This is a legal form of expressing one's disagreement directly to the representatives of state authorities—a matter of #moral significance.
In the course of the months of warfare, we have witnessed a totally new phenomenon: cases in which professional #soldiers refuse to participate in the special operation[*] and demand to terminate their contracts. We wish to express our special #gratitude to those soldiers and police officers who had the courage to #refuse to kill and die in a foreign land, who refused to participate in the special operation.
Today, when many people apprehend the introduction of partial of full [military] mobilisation in Russia, it is precisely the right to conscientious objection to military service that offers them support.
The Movement of Conscientious Objectors in Russia expresses its #solidarity with all those who oppose war, with everyone who stands against the act of #aggression. We wish and pray, with all our might, for Ukraine to survive the assault and retain its independence.
[* "The special operation" is Russia's ongoing attack on Ukraine; formally, it is not a war, but a "special operation", and is being referred to as such in official contexts in Russia]
Заявление Движения сознательных отказчиков к Международному дню отказчиков от военной службы — 15 мая 2022
Дорогие сознательные отказчики от военной службы! Сегодня мы встречаем наш день во время ведения военных действий.С началом войны с Украиной идея отказа от военной службы в России стала особенно актуальной. До войны большинство призывников и их родных не связывали военную службу по призыву и военные действия. Призыв представлялся им чем-то вроде спортивного лагеря с элементами военной подготовки.
Независимо от политических взглядов, здоровое чувство страха перед участием в военных действиях на территории чужого государства заставляет людей подавать заявления на альтернативную гражданскую службу и защищать свое право не служить в армии другими способами.
Для части отказчиков от военной службы важным является возможность в своем заявлении указать, что они являются противниками войны Россия в Украине. Это легальная форма выражения своего несогласия непосредственно представителям власти, что имеет моральное значение.
За месяцы военных действий мы увидели совершенно новое явление: случаи, когда военнослужащие по контракту отказываются участвовать в спецоперации, требуют расторжения контракта. Мы выражаем особую благодарность тем военнослужащим и сотрудникам полиции, которые имели мужество отказаться убивать и умирать в чужой стране, отказались от участия в спецоперации.
Сегодня, когда многие люди опасаются возможного введения частичной или полной мобилизации в России, именно право на отказ от военной службы по убеждениям совести становится для них поддержкой.
Движение сознательных отказчиков от военной службы России выражает солидарность со всеми противниками войны, со всеми, кто противостоит агрессии. Мы из всех сил желаем и молимся, чтобы Украина выстояла и сохранила свою независимость.
Р24 февраля 2022 ДСО опубликовало Заявление в связи с началом спецоперации
#CODay #peace #antiwar #pacifist #pacifism #ConscientiousObjectors #ConscientiousObjection
International Conscientious Objectors' Day was first observed in 1982 by West European #objectors to #compulsory #military service, as a focus both of campaigning for the right of #objection to be established where it was lacking, and of support for objectors everywhere. The date 15th May was chosen simply because it happened to be mutually convenient in 1982 but was retained for renewed activity in 1983 and 1984. Then in 1985 it was formally adopted by the European Bureau of Conscientious Objectors and soon received worldwide recognition – being adopted by War Resisters' International – and changed from being European Conscientious Objectors' Day to International Conscientious Objectors' Day.
Ever since, it has been marked by #vigils outside #prisons or barracks where #COs are held, by #demonstrations at embassies of states where COs are not recognised and/or unfairly treated, by street theatre, and by ceremonies where names of conscientious objectors past or present are read out and publicly honoured.
#CODay #peace #antiwar #pacifist #pacifism #ConscientiousObjectors #ConscientiousObjection
War Resisters International, which advocates for legal protection for COs around the world, monitors those who are imprisoned for refusing military service, and runs numerous campaigns and programs for CO rights - https://wri-irg.org
Peace Pledge Union, which hosts an annual CO vigil as well as a "white poppy campaign" and does a ton more activism throughout the UK - https://www.ppu.org.uk
Here is PPU's call for support for their annual CO ceremony which was today:
Please think of donating to support this annual event - We'd be really grateful for your support, which helps us improve the event year on year and raise more awareness of the struggles of COs.
In recent years we've reached more and more people, including online, and we'd love to keep the momentum going. Here is the donation link:https://cafdonate.cafonline.org/20705
If you have other local peace organizations where you live, please consider volunteering your time or donating to support their efforts too.
I hope today some of you will consider giving to support worthy nonprofits protecting those who refuse to kill.
#peace #antiwar #pacifist #pacifism #ConscientiousObjectors #ConscientiousObjection
#peace #antiwar #pacifist #pacifism #ConscientiousObjectors #ConscientiousObjection
War Resisters International shared the following:
Every year on 15th May, the International Conscientious Objection Day, we organise #solidarity with conscientious objectors (COs) and draw attention to their #resistance to #war. This year, with the ongoing war in #Ukraine, we have a particular focus on the resistance of conscientious objectors from #Russia, #Belarus and Ukraine.
Since the beginning of the #Russian #invasion of Ukraine, we keep getting reports of conscientious objectors refusing to fight and get involved in this war. Groups like the Movement of Conscientious Objectors (Russia) and the Ukranian Pacifist Movement have been sharing their calls for peace and repeating their refusal to take up #arms. There are many others seeking #refuge in other countries to avoid being conscripted or as deserters.
On this International Conscientious Objection Day, we will share their messages of peace and your messages of solidarity with them.
Join us on this day of solidarity with COs from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine! Post your messages of solidarity with COs from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine on social media with the hashtag #CODay.
If you have friends or family using mainstream social media, please ask them to participate using hashtag #CODay for messages of solidarity.
#peace #antiwar #pacifist #pacifism #ConscientiousObjectors #ConscientiousObjection
