Conscientious Objection Watch will monitor and report the current situation of conscientious objectors in Turkey, the human rights violations they are experiencing, and the judicial processes they are going throughd. The initiative will advocate for the recognition of the right to conscientious objection in Turkey and will report the national and international developments regarding the right to conscientious objection.
Turkey is a party to the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights of the Council of Europe, under both of which conscientious objection to military service is recognised as a human right. Turkey is therefore under the obligation of recognising the right and protecting the rights of its conscientious objector citizens. However, despite its obligations, the Turkish government has been insisting on not recognising the right and violating the rights of conscientious objectors for decades.
Conscientious objectors are considered to be “draft evaders” or “deserters” and are subject to a vicious cycle of persecution including repeated trials, fines and sentences. Their right to education, right to work, right to vote and stand for election, right to a fair trial, and their freedom of movement are being violated. Those who do not want to perform compulsory military service are forced to live under conditions of civil death.
Within this context, Conscientious Objection Watch will focus on the current state of conscientious objectors in Turkey; conduct active monitoring and reporting of their experiences.The initiative aims to increase public awareness on the right to conscientious objection in Turkey, inform the international community about the situation of conscientious objectors in Turkey, and develop an effective advocacy mechanism for the recognition of the right.
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For contact: [email protected]
Conscientious objection is a human right!
