1946
"The Tribunal established by the Agreement referred to in Article 1 hereof for the trial and punishment of the major war criminals of the European Axis countries shall have the power to try and punish persons who, acting in the interests of the European Axis countries, whether as individuals or as members of organizations, committed any of the following crimes. The following acts, or any of them, are crimes coming within the jurisdiction of the Tribunal for which there shall be individual responsibility:
a. Crimes Against Peace: (…)
b. War Crimes: (…)
c. Crimes Against Humanity: (…)
Leaders, organizers, instigators and accomplices participating in the formulation or execution of a common plan or conspiracy to commit any of the foregoing crimes are responsible for all acts performed by any persons in execution of such plan."
1948
"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this rights includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."
1950
"(1) Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public and private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance.
(2) Freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others."
1966
"(1) Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching.
(2) No one shall be subject to coercion which would impair his freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice.
(3) Freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health, or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.
(4) The State Parties to the present Covenant undertake to have respect for the liberty of parents and, when applicable, legal guardians to ensure the religious and moral education of their children in conformity with their own conviction."
1989
"[It] strongly affirm[s] the importance of non-violent, political means as the appropriate way of seeking to bring about change in Europe. There are no situations in our countries or on our continent in which violence is required or justified." (§ 61)
1990
"We conclude a covenant (…)
5. For a culture of active nonviolence which is life-promoting and is not a withdrawal from situations of violence and oppression but is a way to work for justice and liberation
5.1 through expressing and implementing the preferential option for a peaceful resolution of conflicts,
5.2 through supporting the right to conscientious objection to military service and tax for military purposes, and providing alternative forms of service for peace, and taxation."
1993
§ 11. (…) The covenant does not explicitly refer to a right of conscientious objection, but the committee believes that such a right can be derived from Article 18, inasmuch as the obligation to use lethal force may seriously conflict with the freedom of conscience and the right to manifest one’s religion or belief. (…)
1993
(Report by Mr. J.M. Bandres Molet and Ms. R. Bindi, PE 206.246). Proposed article 16 was not retained by the Plenary of the European Parliament in January 1994.
"(The European Parliament:) considers that this fundamental right of conscientious objection also relates to tax contributions and calls therefore on the Members States to draw up a reply to the conscientious objections of people who are forced to support the military system through the national budget."
2000
"In the context of the right not to be complicit in killings, we call for full legal recognition of the rights of conscientious objectors."
2002
"We recognise the growing movements of protest throughout the world,...
We ask them to join together with others in resistance to military solutions and in the search for peace and global justice. Peace, democracy, and a safe environment are necessary for the world our children will inherit: war is waste and waste is the greatest environmental crime...
As a matter of urgency, we strive to:...
Give support to prisoners of conscience; and to those campaigning for the right to conscientious objection to military service and taxation;..."
The full text is available from the site of The Bertrand Russel Peace Foundation
This page was last reviewed 2 June 2006