This year’s EBCO Annual Report on Conscientious Objection to Military Service in Europe is published in a context marked not only by the continued acceleration of militarisation across the continent and beyond, but also persistent and widespread violations of international and human rights because of wars.
Increased defence spending, the normalisation of rearmament policies, and the consolidation of security-driven political narratives are progressively narrowing the space for the exercise and protection of fundamental rights, including the right to conscientious objection. At the same time, ongoing armed conflicts and geopolitical tensions are intensifying pressures on individuals who refuse to bear arms, exposing them to prosecution, discrimination, and repression.
