press release

Joint statement of 29 May 2018
Bearing in mind the scandalous fact that despite numerous appeals, Greek authorities have, for several decades, violated the human right of conscientious objection to military service, the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection and War Resisters’ International support the renewed call for a boycott of the Conscience Examination Committee (the special advisory committee which examines applications for conscientious objector status), which has been issued by the Association of Greek Conscientious Objectors.

Le Bureau européen pour l’objection de conscience (EBCO) présente son Rapport annuel 2017 sur l’objection de conscience au service militaire en Europe, à l’occasion de la Journée internationale des droits humains (10 décembre).

Brussels, 8 December 2017

In view of the International Human Rights Day (December 10^th) the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) publishes its new Annual Report “Conscientious Objection to Military Service in Europe 2017”.

Le Bureau européen pour l’objection de conscience (EBCO) a tenu son assemblée générale 2017 le 4 novembre au Centre multimedia communautaire chypriote, dans la zone tampon de l’ONU entre les deux parties de Nicosie, la dernière capitale divisée d’Europe.

Brussels, 10 November 2017

The 2017 General Assembly of the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) was held on 4^th November in the Cyprus Community Media Centre (CCMC) in the UN buffer zone between the two parts of Nicosia, the last divided capital in Europe, in Cyprus.

Brussels, 31 May 2017

The European Bureau for Conscientious Objection expresses its indignation for the forthcoming trial of Panagiotis Makris by the 3-membered Military Court of Thessaloniki on Thursday, June 1^st, for an offence of “insubordination” since 1990!
 

Βρυξέλλες, 20 Μαρτίου 2017

Το Ευρωπαϊκό Γραφείο για την Αντίρρηση Συνείδησης (EBCO), με την ευκαιρία της ανοιξιάτικης Γενικής του Συνέλευσης, υπενθυμίζει τις υποσχέσεις της ελληνικής κυβέρνησης για αντιμετώπιση των προβλημάτων στη νομοθεσία και τις διαδικασίες σχετικά με την αντίρρηση συνείδησης στην στρατιωτική θητεία, και προσφέρει τη βοήθειά του.

Brussels, 20 March 2017

The European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO), on the occasion of its spring General Assembly, recalls promises by the Greek Government to address shortcomings in its legislation and procedures regarding conscientious objection to military service, and offers its assistance. 

Athens 14/12/2016

On Monday 12 of December, a few days after the anniversary marking 30 years from the first declaration of refusal to enlist on ideological grounds of Mihalis Maragkakis, three new conscientious objectors proceeded to an unprecedented, as for Greece, massive refusal to be examined by the Conscience Examination Committee.

Athens 10/12/2016

The Association of Greek Conscientious Objectors calls on those who have submitted applications in order to be recognized as conscientious objectors and perform alternative service, to boycott, from now on, the Conscience Examination Committee. The existence of a committee, which, like another Holy Inquisition, interrogates the conscientious objectors, violates any sense of the protected right to freedom of conscience. 

Brussels, 13 November 2016

The European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO, http://www.ebco-beoc.org) presents its Annual Report 2016 on Conscientious Objection in Europe on Saturday 19/11/2016 in Athens, Greece (at 18:00 at the WELCOMMON Community Center for Refugees’ Temporary Hosting and Social Inclusion, 4 Kapodistriou Street, 10682, Athens).

Βρυξέλλες, 13 Νοεμβρίου 2016

Το Ευρωπαϊκό Γραφείο για την Αντίρρηση Συνείδησης (EBCO, http://www.ebco-beoc.org) παρουσιάζει την Ετήσια Έκθεση 2016 για την Αντίρρηση Συνείδησης στην Ευρώπη το Σάββατο 19/11/2016 στην Αθήνα, Ελλάδα (ώρα 18:00 στο Κοινοτικό Κέντρο Προσωρινής Φιλοξενίας και Κοινωνικής Ένταξης Προσφύγων WELCOMMON, Καποδιστρίου 4, 10682, Αθήνα).

Brussels, 14 October 2016

“In less than a year three different international human rights instruments have pointed out serious violations of human rights of conscientious objectors in Greece,” EBCO President Friedhelm Schneider underlined today. “This highlights Greece’s urgent need for legislative reform on conscientious objection, in order to comply with international human rights law and standards.” For this reason EBCO has decided to hold its next meeting in Athens, Greece (19 – 21 November).

Βρυξέλλες 14/10/2016

«Σε λιγότερο από έναν χρόνο, τρία διαφορετικά διεθνή όργανα ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων επεσήμαναν σοβαρές παραβιάσεις ανθρωπίνων δικαιωμάτων των αντιρρησιών συνείδησης στην Ελλάδα» υπογράμμισε σήμερα ο Πρόεδρος του Ευρωπαϊκού Γραφείου για την Αντίρρηση Συνείδησης (E.B.C.O.), Φρίντχελμ Σνάιντερ.

“I don’t want the people I love and care about to be a part of the dirty war the state is fighting. This war doesn’t only kill men, it kills women too. That is why I am declaring my conscientious objection.”
Polen Ünlü, 15 May 2012

“I will not die or kill for anybody and I will not be a soldier of anybody. For a world without wars, nations and borders, for freedom I am listening to my conscience and I refuse military service. Let’s destroy militarism before it destroys our lives.”
Alper Sapan, 15 May 2014