The historical evolution of the right of conscientious objection to military service in the UN human rights system: 1950-2017
by Andreas Yiannaros
International Journal of Human Rights and Constitutional Studies (IJHRCS), Vol. 5, No. 2, 2017

Abstract: This paper discusses the emergence and historic development of the right to conscientious objection to military service within the United Nations framework for the protection of human rights, through the drafting history of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 1966. It further explores conscientious objection as a fundamental aspect of the right to manifest one's thought, conscience and religion and it outlines the jurisprudence of the UN Human Rights Committee in relation to conscientious objection to military service from 1981 to 2017 to illustrate the Committee's changing approach to the matter and its steps to ensure compliance with international human rights standards. This paper contributes to academic knowledge by exploring the semantic restraints of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and casting light on the delayed response of the UN human rights system in adopting a more liberal approach to the interpretation of the Covenant, which finally recognised - through its monitoring bodies - that conscientious objection to military service is an integral part of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

Online publication date: Fri, 15-Dec-2017

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Human Rights and Constitutional Studies (IJHRCS):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com