Brussels, 30 September 2013
Friday 4 October 2013, 16:30 – 19:30
Office of the European Parliament in Greece, 8 Amalias avenue, Syntagma square
PRESENTATION OF EBCO’S ANNUAL REPORT ON CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION TO MILITARY SERVICE IN EUROPE hosted by MEP Nikos Chrysogelos (GREENS/EFA)
A public event on conscientious objection to military service in Europe will be hosted by Green MEP Nikos CHRYSOGELOS on Friday the 4th of October 2013, at 16:30-19:30 in the office of the European Parliament in Greece (8 Amalias avenue, Syntagma square). During this public event the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection will present its Annual Report on the right to conscientious objection in Europe.
“Unlike previous years that we presented EBCO’s Annual Report on Conscientious Objection to Military Service in the European Parliament in Brussels, where our international secretariat is based, we decided this year to present EBCO’s Annual Report in Athens, due to our rising concerns about the unacceptable treatment of conscientious objectors in Greece which continues to be in violation of international human rights standards and the political guidelines of the European Union. It is particularly distressing that this should be happening just as Greece is about to assume the presidency of the European Union, which has hitherto played such a positive role in the international campaign for the full recognition of the right of conscientious objection to military service.”, Friedhelm Schneider, EBCO’s President stated today.
“EBCO’s annual report this year documents an unprecedented series of prosecutions of conscientious objectors in Greece. Another focus is on the treatment of conscientious objectors who seek asylum; we are particularly concerned about the situation of Syrian asylum-seekers in Greece. And we are disturbed that military expenditure continues to be largely shielded from the austerity package which is being imposed on the Greek economy, so that social welfare programmes have to bear an undue part of the burden.”, Derek Brett, EBCO’s Researcher added.
“Instead of prosecuting conscientious objectors to military service, the greek government should promote conscientious objection as a human right and as a valuable contribution to non-violence and peace. Civilian service should promote solidarity, social cohesion and protection of the environment. Asylum seekers should be granted international protection. In order social spending to be prioritised over military spending in a period of crisis, EU should guarantee the borders of Greece using its political power.”, Nikos Chrysogelos, MEP of the Greens/EFA underlined today.
The United Nations Human Rights Committee has found that the right of conscientious objection to military service is inherent in the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, enshrined in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. [1] The European Court of Human Rights, too, has ruled that conscientious objection to military service is protected under Article 9 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. [2]
PRESS CONTACT PERSONS
Angelos Nikolopoulos, Secretary General, EBCO, Tel.: +30 6988509211, ebco@ebco-beoc.org, www.ebco-beoc.org
Joanna Papakostoula, Press Officer, Office of MEP Nikos Chrysogelos GREENS/EFA, Tel.: +30 2103223825, press.chrysogelos@gmail.com, www.chrysogelos.gr
PROGRAMME
Moderator of first session: Nikos CHRYSOGELOS, MEP Greens/EFA
16.30 - 17.00 |
Registration |
17.00 - 17.10 |
Introductory speech by Nikos CHRYSOGELOS, MEP, Greens/EFA |
17.10 - 17.20 |
Introductory speech by Friedhelm SCHNEIDER, President, EBCO |
17.20 - 17.45 |
Presentation of EBCO’s Annual Report on Conscientious Objection in Europe by Derek BRETT, Researcher, EBCO |
17.45 - 17.50 |
Comments by Angelos NIKOLOPOULOS, General Secretary, Greek Association of Conscientious Objectors |
17.50 - 18.10 |
Reflections by political groups |
Moderator of second session: Ioanna SOTIRCHOU, Journalist of the Journalists’ Journal
18.10 - 18.20 |
Comments by Petros MASTAKAS, Associate Protection Officer, Office in Greece of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees |
18.20 - 18.30 |
Comments by Michael TSAPOGAS, Senior Investigator on Human Rights, Greek Ombudsman |
18.30 - 18.40 |
Comments by George KARATZAS, Coordinator, Network for the Right to Conscientious Objection, Greek Section of Amnesty International |
18.40 - 18.50 |
Comments by Timotheos SIGALAS, lawyer, defender of conscientious objectors in Greece |
18.50 - 19.00 |
Comments by Harry LADIS, lawyer, defender of conscientious objectors in Greece |
19.00 - 19.10 |
Comments by Hannah BROCK, Right to Refuse to Kill Programme Worker, War Resisters’ International |
19.10 - 19.15 |
Comments by representative of the World without Wars and Violence |
19.15 - 19.30 |
Discussion |
Note: Simultaneous interpretation from english to greek and from greek to english will be provided during the entire event.
[1] See: Atasoy and Sarkut v Turkey, Views adopted 29th March 2012, (CCPR/C/104/D/1853 – 1854/2008)
[2] Bayatyan v Armenia (Application no. 23459/03, Grand Chamber Judgment of 07/07/2011)