This new publication shares perspectives and learning from a side event at the 25th session of the UN Human Rights Council organized by the Quaker United Nations Office (QUNO) together with Belgium, Mexico, Montenegro and Norway. At the side-event, experts reflected on a number of key issues, including violence against children; the specific application of the death penalty in Japan; good practices in the assistance of foreign nationals on death row abroad by the Mexican government; and developments in the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Universal Periodic Review Process and the UN General Assembly. 

Conscientious objectors to military service face a number of serious and negative implications for their refusal to perform military service, when the right of conscientious objection is not recognised in their country. These implications can include prosecution and imprisonment, sometimes repeatedly, as well as fines. However, there are a number of other less-well known, but serious implications, which make it difficult for conscientious objectors to secure employment, pursue an education, move freely, exercise their right to vote and otherwise participate fully in public and political life.
 

In this written statement by Friends World Committee for Consultation, Quakers draw attention to the serious and negative implications for those who object to military service when there is no national recognition and implementation of the right to conscientious objection. These implications include: punishment and discriminatory treatment; criminal prosecution; and lack of necessary identity documentation.

In this statement, delivered to the 25th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Friends World Committee for Consultation (Quakers) highlights the serious and negative implications for conscientious objectors, when the right of conscientious objection is not fully recognised and implemented in practice, and makes recommendations to address the situation and ensure that they can enjoy fully their civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights.

To view a video recording of the oral statement by QUNO's Emily Graham, click here. QUNO's statement begins at 01:46:50 and can be accessed by selecting the Chapter 47 link in the index listed on the right of the website.

See also:

Conscientious Objection to Military Service, written statement submitted by FWCC to the 25th session of the Human Rights Council

Geneva's newsletter from July to October 2013. Features stories:

• Children of parents sentenced to death or executed
• New framework for trade and investment in agriculture
• Conscientious objection to military service
• New energy on nuclear disarmament
• Highlights from QUNO New York

This document highlights the experiences of children with a parent(s) accused of a capital crime. From the point of arrest, to sentencing, to release or execution of the sentence, the study points out the devastating effects on these children’s physical and mental well-being. Unfortunately, these consequences are not paid much attention in criminal justice systems. The study concludes with recommendations for States.

See also

• Lightening the Load of the Parental Death Sentence on Children
• Briefing Paper: Children of Parents Sentenced to Death
• Report: Children of Parents Sentenced to Death

This is a very detailed study exploring the situations of children whose parents have been sentenced with capital punishment. It looks first at the commonalities between their experiences and those of children whose parents have been incarcerated, and then at the differences between these groups of children. It also sets out recommendations.

See also:

• Children of Parents Sentenced to Death: How are they affected? How can they be supported?
• Briefing Paper: Children of Parents Sentenced to Death
• Report: Children of Parents Sentenced to Death
• This oral statement.

A user-friendly Guide to using Human Rights System for Conscientious Objectors. Together with the Centre for Civil and Political Rights, War Resisters International and Conscience and Peace Tax International, QUNO has made this guide available on-line and on paper. The Guide, in its own words, “is mainly intended as a web publication […], which allows users a quick overview of relevant human rights mechanisms applicable to their situation. While it can be read as a book, its main use is as an interactive guide. It is aimed at conscientious objectors to military service anywhere in the world who struggle for the recognition of their right to conscientious objection, or against discrimination for being a conscientious objector, and who want to use international or regional human rights systems in their struggle. It can also be used by local or national organizations of conscientious objectors to military service, or by human rights NGOs supporting conscientious objectors to help them to access international or regional human rights systems.”

See also: OHCHR Guide on Conscientious Objection to Military Service.

A reference list of recent QUNO publications by programme, including brief summaries of their content and links to PDFs of the full publications.