QUNO has submitted an Amicus Curiae opinion on conscientious objection to military service to the Constitutional Court of Korea jointly with Amnesty International, the International Commission of Jurists, the International Fellowship of Reconciliation, and War Resisters’ International. This opinion is submitted in relation to the cases bought by six conscientious objectors against the government of the Republic of Korea on the basis of the violation of their right to conscientious objection to military service. The opinion outlines to the Constitution Court the position of conscientious objectors in international law, focusing on recent developments in the UN Human Rights Committee. It is believed that over 10,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses have been imprisoned as a result of their conscientious objection to military service since the year 2000, which gives an indication of the severity of the problem.

In this publication, QUNO questions the presence and influence of the military in primary and secondary education from a peace and human rights perspective. Concerned at the military’s involvement in schools and the militarization of education, QUNO draws attention to relevant international human rights standards that promote education for peace. 

Minute 36 (the Canterbury Commitment) challenges Quakers to seek a sustainable, equitable and peaceful life on Earth. Britain Yearly Meeting is responding to this challenge by focusing on how to become a low-carbon sustainable community. The Quaker United Nations Office responds to the same challenge at the international level in our work on climate change, natural resource management, food and sustainability, and human rights.

This briefing paper connects the work of QUNO to the concerns and the spirit of Minute 36, describing the linkages between local, national and international levels of engagement.

Remarks made by QUNO at the UN Peacebuilding Commission Annual Session in New York.

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.
 

Review of the activities of QUNO in 2013.

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 written statement by Friends World Committee for Consultation to the 25th session of the Human Rights Council (HRC), Quakers ask that the Right to Food be considered in the development of new policy frameworks for trade and investment in agriculture. It calls on the HRC to encourage the design of alternative approaches to trade and investment rules with people, sustainability and food at the centre and the creation of an enabling international legal environment that supports domestic efforts towards the realization of the right to food.

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