Summary / Key Findings / Recommendations

The report builds upon submissions received from stakeholders and on the analytical report submitted by OHCHR to the Human Rights Council at its thirty-fifth session (A/HRC/35/4). It reaffirms briefly the international legal framework outlined in that report, points to some implementation gaps, then provides information on current trends and developments relevant to conscientious objections since 2017. It subsequently outlines different approaches for obtaining the status of conscientious objector to military service and their associated challenges. OHCHR concludes the report by proposing the minimum criteria that should be respected in application procedures for obtaining the status of conscientious objector to military service.

Backgound

In its resolution 36/18, the Human Rights Council requested the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) to prepare, in consultation with all States and the relevant intergovernmental organizations, United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, special procedures, treaty bodies, national human rights institutions and non-governmental organizations a report on different approaches and challenges with regard to the application procedures for obtaining the status of conscientious objector to military service in accordance with human rights standards. On 12 October 2018, OHCHR invited the various stakeholders to provide any relevant information pursuant to the request made in resolution 36/18, to feed into the preparation of the report A/HRC/41/23.