Table 1: Obligatory Military Service

Introduction / abolition of obligatory military service
 State introduced: abolished/
suspended:
last intake no conscripts
serving from:
Argentina   1994    
Australia   1973    
Belgium   1992 (December 31) 1993 1995 (March 1)
Bosnia-Herzegovina:   2005 (October 5)  2005 2006 (January 1)
Croatia       2010 p
Czech Republic   2001 2004 (April) 2005 (January 1)
Djibouti     2001  
Ecuador     1998  
France   1997 2001 2002
Honduras   1994    
Hungary   2004 (November 3)   2005 (Aug)
Italy   2000 (November 14) 2004 (Feb) 2005 (January 1)
Jordan   (April) 1992    
Kuwait 1980 2001 2002  
Latvia   2004 (draft law) 2006 p 2007 p
Luxembourg   1967   (July 1) 1969
Macedonia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of       2008
Malaysia 2003      
Mozambique 1997      
Netherlands   1992 1996 1997
New Zealand   1973    
Nicaragua   1990    
Peru   1999 (September)   2003
Portugal   1999   2004 (December )
Romania   2005 (September) 2006 2007 (January 1)
Slovakia   2004 (June)   2007 (January 1)
Slovenia   2002 2003 (April) 2003 (Oct)
South Africa       1994
Spain   1999 (May 18) 2001 2002 (January 1)
Suriname   1998    
UK 1939   1957 1963
USA 1940   1973 (July 1)  
Zimbabwe 1989/2002      

Notes: p - currently proposed

Sources:

  • Horeman, B. and Stolwijk, M.,  Refusing to Bear Arms, War Resisters International, 1998.
  • Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, Child Soldiers Global Report 2004 .
  • Stolwijk, M., The Right to Conscientious Objection in Europe,   Quaker Council for European Affairs, Brussels, 2005.