Court martial raises fears over forces personnel’s right to conscience
British sailor denied right to conscientious objection as world marks CO Day
ForcesWatch press release
Only a few days after International Conscientious Objectors’ Day on Sunday (15 May), a member of the Royal Navy with moral objections to the war in Afghanistan will be tried for ‘wilful disobedience’.
Armed forces report reveals MPs’ confusion over recruitment of under-18s
ForcesWatch press release
The report by the House of Commons Committee on the Armed Forces Bill has rejected proposals to raise the minimum age of recruitment to 18. But ForcesWatch, an NGO that submitted evidence to the Committee, suggests that the wording of the report reveals a lack of clarity over the law in this area, even among MPs and senior military personnel.
Fox urged to recognise conscientious objection in Armed Forces Bill
ForcesWatch press release
Defence Secretary Liam Fox is being urged to uphold the right of armed forces personnel to be given a discharge if they develop a conscientious objection.