Conscientious Objectors Day
Show solidarity with Conscientious Objectors in Israel, Ukraine, Russia and around the world and stand against militarism.
Every year on 15th May, people around the world organise events and activities to commemorate conscientious objectors past and present. International Conscientious Objectors Day provides an opportunity not only to honour those who opposed and refused to fight in wars but also for us to reflect on the legacy of conscientious objection and stand in solidarity with conscientious objectors today.
The History of International Conscientious Objectors’ Day – Peace Pledge Union
International Conscientious Objectors’ Day was first observed in 1982 by West European objectors to compulsory military service, as a focus both of campaigning for the right of objection to be established where it was lacking, and of support for objectors everywhere. The date 15th May was chosen simply because it happened to be mutually convenient in 1982 but was retained for renewed activity in 1983 and 1984. Then in 1985 it was formally adopted by the European Bureau of Conscientious Objectors and soon received worldwide recognition – being adopted by War Resisters’ International – and changed from being European Conscientious Objectors’ Day to International Conscientious Objectors’ Day.
Ever since, it has been marked by vigils outside prisons or barracks where COs are held, by demonstrations at embassies of states where COs are not recognised and/or unfairly treated, by street theatre, and by ceremonies where names of conscientious objectors past or present are read out and publicly honoured.
The ambiguous word “hero” is not normally associated with conscientious objection, but it should be recalled that conscientious objectors have been executed for maintaining the right to refuse to kill. Maximilian in 295 AD resolved as a Christian not to serve in the Roman army, and was summarily beheaded with the sword his father had intended to give him on taking the oath as a soldier. More than two hundred conscientious objectors were shot by firing squad or beheaded by guillotine in Nazi Germany in the Second World War. As late as 1949 two conscientious objectors were shot by firing squad in Greece; the international scandal led to a reprieve for a third.
Between the World Wars a French objector was held for twenty years on the notorious penal colony Devil’s Island, off French Guiana. Three conscientious objectors have been held continuously since 1994 in Eritrea. In 1916, thirty five British conscientious objectors were formally sentenced to death by firing squad, though immediately reprieved; on the other hand more than a hundred British WW1 objectors are known to have died prematurely as a result of their treatment in prison or the army.
Reproduced from Housmans Peace Diary, 2020
On 15th May those wishing to show support and stand against militarism, can join a rally in Arran. Alongside campaigners across the UK, an event is being planned with details still to be confirmed at the time of publishing. For more information on this event, please keep in touch with the Voice for Arran Facebook page, other island media, or email info@voiceforarran.com
For more information on conscientious objection, and for details on events taking place around the UK, see the Peace Pledge Union website . Featured image credit Sonar Arkan on Pexels.com
