Resolution on Conscientious Objection to Military Service adopted

On Friday, 27 September 2013 at the 24th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, the members adopted without a vote the Resolution on Conscientious Objection to Military Service

On Friday, 27 September 2013 at the 24^th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, the members adopted without a vote the Resolution on Conscientious Objection to Military Service, initiated by Croatia. This is a first substantive resolution on the subject, presented by Croatia in cooperation with Costa Rica and Portugal to the Human Rights Council as the key UN body for the protection and promotion of human rights. Its adoption contributes to the realization of goals stated in the EU guidelines on the promotion and protection of the freedom of religion and belief.

The resolution for the first time confirmed that conscientious objection to military service can be derived from the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief. Among other things, it calls on the states that do not have such a system to establish independent decision-making bodies with the task of determining whether a conscientious objection to military service is genuinely held in a specific case, and calls upon states to consider releasing individuals imprisoned or detained solely on the basis of their conscientious objection to military service.

By leading the talks on the resolution, Croatia confirmed its active engagement in and contribution to the shaping of international policy in the area of human rights. On the occasion of the resolution’s adoption, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Croatia in Geneva received numerous expressions of appreciation by the EU members, interested countries and NGOs.

The resolution so far has been co-sponsored by 37 states. 

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