EBCO PRESS RELEASE
EBCO in the European Parliament public hearing on conscientious objection as a human right and in particular, Russian conscientious objectors
Brussels, 1 March 2023
Sam Biesemans, Vice-President of the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) will participate as speaker to the European Parliament public hearing devoted to conscientious objection as a human right and in particular Russian conscientious objectors, organised by the Subcommittee on Human Rights on Thursday, March 2nd, from 10.15 until 11.30 (Brussels time).
Sam Biesemans will present briefly the joint international #ObjectWarCampaign: Russia, Belarus, Ukraine: Protection and asylum for deserters and conscientious objectors to military service (https://ebco-beoc.org/node/545).
The public hearing aims to highlight how the human right to conscientious objection to military service must be enforced in all countries, including those at war, and how the EU could grant conscientious objectors further protection.
Topics to be discussed are applicable international standards and jurisprudence relating to conscientious objection to military service, and current trends regarding respect for and violations of the right to conscientious objection. During the hearing, the situation of Russian conscientious objectors will be given special attention.
The event will be webstreamed in 7 languages via the website of the European Parliament:
More info and final programme: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/conscientious-objection-as-a-human-right/product-details/20230221CAN68896
Visual Hearing on Conscientious Objection.jpg © Image used under license from Adobe Stock
European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights
Hearing: Conscientious objection as a human right and in particular, Russian conscientious objectors
Brussels, 2 March 2023
10.15-11.30
Room - SPAAK 4B001
DRAFT PROGRAMME
10.15 Introductory remarks
· Udo Bullmann, Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights
10.20 Presentations
· Michael Wiener, Human Rights officer, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
· Sam Biesemans, Vice-President, European Bureau for Conscientious Objection
· Sergey Krivenko, Member of the Board of "Memorial International" and head of the Russian NGO "Grazhdanin, armia, pravo" ("Citizen, Army, Law")
· Saša Belik, Advocacy officer, Sphere Foundation
· Milana Shesterikova, Head of International Office, Russian Youth Democratic Movement “Vesna”
· Kanstantsin Staradubets, External communication manager, Human Rights Center “Viasna”
10.55 Q&A
11.25 Concluding remarks by the Chair
#ObjectWarCampaign: Russia, Belarus, Ukraine: Protection and asylum for deserters and conscientious objectors to military service
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND INTERVIEWS please contact (ENGLISH, FRENCH, DUTCH, ITALIAN): Sam Biesemans, EBCO Vice-President: +32 477268893; sambiesemans@skynet.be
*************