EBCO

European Bureau for Conscientious Objection |
Bureau Européen de l'Objection de Conscience |
Europäisches Büro für Kriegsdienstve |

[Better World Info @BetterWorldInfo]

This #ConscientiousObjection Day ☮️ on May 15 we stand with #Pacifists 🕊️ and #WarResisters in Israel 🇮🇱, USA 🇺🇸, Russia 🇷🇺, and Ukraine 🇺🇦

Everything you need to know ➡️ https://t.co/YFQwNXjWpc - follow us and share 📢

We must protect our right to #ObjectWar and #RefuseWar! Let’s demand an end to mandatory #Conscription this #CODay 🌐

"War is a crime against humanity!" - Pope Francis

Graphic: John | Better World Info

[EBCO @ebcobeoc]

👉 Read the full EBCO Annual Report on Conscientious Objection in Europe here:

https://t.co/QEGdk2obsx

[EBCO @ebcobeoc]

📣📣EBCO NEW ANNUAL REPORT ON CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION IN EUROPE📣📣

This year’s EBCO Annual Report on Conscientious Objection in Europe is released amid accelerating militarisation and ongoing, widespread violations of international and human rights caused by wars. 👇

[EBCO @ebcobeoc]

This report is both documentation and advocacy. Amid growing war preparations, it reaffirms a core principle: refusing to fight is not only a right, but essential for just and lasting peace.👇

[EBCO @ebcobeoc]

URGENT📢 Connection e.V., IFOR, EBCO & WRI condemn the unlawful detention of human rights defender Yurii Sheliazhenko, March 19, in Kyiv. Weeks after our call to end persecution of conscientious objectors, authorities escalate repression!

Full statement👇
https://t.co/yaB0dYGO4y

[EBCO @ebcobeoc]

📣Joint Call from Conscientious Objectors and Draft Reisters in Turkey, Cyprus, Greece and Israel: No to War in Iran

You can read the full statement at the link below 👇
https://t.co/ayJ1quuFYX

[EBCO @ebcobeoc]

✊🕊️ Conscientious Objector Yurii Sheliazhenko under immediate threat!

EBCO joins many peace & human rights orgs calling on Ukraine to stop persecuting conscientious objectors and drop charges against him.

Full statement on our website👇
https://t.co/51K45Ip1nV

[EBCO @ebcobeoc]

On Human Rights Day, our member @vrizleme (Turkey), organised a press conference. On the event, trans activist Hikmet Hazer declared conscientious objection.

🌈✊☮️ EBCO proudly stands with all conscientious objectors defending peace, freedom, and equality!

[Vicdani Ret İzleme @vrizleme]

📣10 Aralık İnsan Hakları Günü’nde Vicdani Ret Açıklaması

Dün, #10AralıkDünyaİnsanHaklarıGünü kapsamında Kuşadası Eğitim-Sen Şubesi’nde Renkli Güvercin LGBTİ+ İnisiyatifi’yle birlikte düzenlediğimiz basın toplantısında, trans aktivist Hikmet Hazer vicdani reddini açıkladı.

[EBCO @ebcobeoc]

📢 Dec 5: Students across Germany strike against conscription & militarization.
From classrooms to the streets, they demand:
➡️ “We want a say in our future!” ✊🕊️
More info 👉 @BetterWorldInfo

#schulstreikgegenwehrpflicht
#neinzurwehrpflicht

https://t.co/qMpxFywuqi

[EBCO @ebcobeoc]

For more information, please visit our website👇

https://t.co/ER4GgPOwNy

[EBCO @ebcobeoc]

📢 Trial of Hasan Rahvancıoğlu Postponed

On 27 Nov, the Military Court in Nicosia postponed the trial of conscientious objector Hasan Rahvancıoğlu to 22 Jan 2026. He faces three cases simply for exercising his right to conscientious objection.

[EBCO @ebcobeoc]

Peace activists from both sides of Cyprus gathered outside the court to show solidarity, joined by one international observer representing both EBCO and War Resisters’ International.

✊EBCO stands in solidarity with Hasan, @kibrsvicdaniret and all conscientious objectors!

[EBCO @ebcobeoc]

✊Hasan Rahvancıoğlu’s next trial is set for 27 November 2025, and we will be closely monitoring the proceedings in solidarity.

Conscientious objection is a human right.
Hasan Rahvancıoğlu is not alone!

[EBCO @ebcobeoc]

📢 Stop Prosecuting Turkish Cypriot Conscientious Objector Hasan Rahvancıoğlu

Connection e.V., IFOR, EBCO and @warresistersint call on authorities to immediately end the prosecution of conscientious objector Hasan Rahvancıoğlu.

Full statement👇
https://t.co/ovhR75x1Ey

[EBCO @ebcobeoc]

📽️ Conscientious Objection: Global Perspectives:
Voices from Belgium, Europe, Israel & Chile come together in this French-language roundtable on the right to refuse military service.

🌍 Shared challenges, global solidarity.

📌 Video in French.

https://t.co/eg1lUb2VWc

[EBCO @ebcobeoc]

EBCO Vice President Sam Biesemans and Treasurer Jean-Louis Vander Heiden (Agir pour la Paix) shared powerful reflections on peace. Eytan Bornstein, Israeli anti-militarist activist, and Pia Figueroa, co-director of Pressenza, also contributed inspiring testimonies.

[EBCO @ebcobeoc]

🕊️ On November 6, EBCO took part in a roundtable in Brussels on conscientious objection, organized within Pressenza’s international meeting in collaboration with Agir pour la Paix.

https://t.co/XGUQbD3QHj

[EBCO @ebcobeoc]

Our member organisation @vrizleme Conscientious Objection Watch Vicdani Ret İzleme has shared an important announcement!

After many years, a conscientious objector will be imprisoned in Turkey! Send a message of solidarity to conscientious objector Çınar Koçgiri Doğan.

[Vicdani Ret İzleme @vrizleme]

⚠️After many years in which no conscientious objectors were imprisoned, Turkey is once again about to jail one.⚠️
Çınar Koçgiri Doğan is one of hundreds of conscientious objectors in Turkey who publicly refuse to perform compulsory military service.

[EBCO @ebcobeoc]

Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all those who worked with him. We will continue the work he championed, with the same dedication and clarity he inspired in so many of us.

EBCO Board

[EBCO @ebcobeoc]

On behalf of the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection, we express our deepest condolences on the passing of Rudi Friedrich.

Rudi was a tireless advocate for the rights of conscientious objectors and deserters across the world.

[EBCO @ebcobeoc]

We honour his legacy, his unwavering commitment, and the humanity he brought to every struggle he engaged in.