All events
(06.05.2025) Around the International Day of Conscientious Objection, 15 May, there will be events and actions in several countries: Istanbul, London, Seoul, Bogotá, Medellín, Carlisle, Liverpool, Wokingham, Oxford, Staffordshire, Leicester, Edinburgh, Göttingen, Celle, Aalen, Mainz, Oldenburg, Greifswald, Schwerin, Nottuln, Erlangen, Stuttgart, Mannheim, Marburg, Mainz, Bonn, Bielefeld, Osterholz-Scharmbeck, Berlin. With these events, we call for protection for all those who refuse to got to war. Conscientious objection is a human right – especially in times of war. Persecuted conscientious objectors and deserters must be granted asylum!
#ObjectWarCampaign: An alliance of more than 120 organisations across Europe is calling for the protection of all those who refuse military service – particulary in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. Find out more at www.objectwarcampaign.org
#RefuseWar: At the same time, we are continuing the global action #RefuseWar on the International Day of Conscientious Objection. Get involved – add your declaration of conscientious objection to our interactive map. You are cordially invited to take part. Find out more at www.refusewar.org.
Stop militarisation and conscription: We are firmly oppose all forms of compulsory military service, including the introduction of general mandatory service. Such measures only serve to advance militatrisation.
What we need instead is stronger support for existing forms of civic engagement – and broad backing for peacbuilding initiatives and conflict revolution efforts rooted in research an practice.
Actions and Events 2025
Thu, 8 May 2025, 7:30 PM, Celle: Film and discussion: “The Love of Life“
A documentary about Wehrmacht deserter Ludwig Baumann.
Venue: Kino 8 1/2 (Hannoversche Str. 30e.)
Fri, 9 May 2025, 6:00 PM, Göttingen: Conscientious Objection in Turkey.
With speakers from Turkey (Vicdani Ret Izleme).
Venue: OM10, Obere Maschstr. 10, 37073 Göttingen
Fri, 9 May 2025, 7:00 PM, Erlangen. Film and discussion: “The Love of Life“
A documentary about Wehrmacht deserter Ludwig Baumann.
Venue: Zentrum Wiesengrund, Wöhrmühle 7.
Sat, 10 May 2025, 4:00 PM (Time in Turkey). Webinar: Conscientious Objection in Cyprus. Conscientious objectors Halil Karapaşaoglu and Murat Kanatli from the Cyprus Conscientious Objection Initiative will speak about the ongoing struggle for the right to conscientious objection in Cyprus. The webinar will be in Turkish. Registration is required: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/dgKW5rovTQSG0FNyMU24Tg
Monday, 12th May 2025, 10am, Medellín. Workshop Introducing Conscientious Objection with 11th-grade students. Location: IE Juvenil Nuevo Futuro, Medellín.
Tue, 13th May, 5PM, Rostock, Germany. Universitätsplatz, “Refuse all War Services”
Organised by: Rostocker Friedensbündnis
Wed, 14 May 2025, 5:00PM, Aalen. Conscientious objection vigil.
Organized by the Aalen Peace Alliance.
Location: Am Marktbrunnen, Aalen.
Wed, 14 May 2025, Seoul, South Korea
“We Who Overcame the Coup: Stories and Songs of Civil Resistance in Thailand and Korea.” Organised by World Without War. In-person event.
Wed, 14 May 2025, 7:00 PM (Time in Turkey).
Documentary Screening and Discussion in Istanbul. CO Watch will screen the documentary Shalom – Salaam – Peace, directed by Alexia Tsouni and produced by FemArtAct Social Cooperative. The event will include a conversation about the resistance of Israeli conscientious objectors.
Registration is required: https://forms.gle/QE9hgUotvFjQkRdP6.
Location information will be sent to those who register.
Thu, 15 May 2025, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, Bogotá.
“More Playful, Less Warlike” – a game fair that opens spaces for dialouge and learning through play, addressing social issues such as militarisation.
Organised by ACOOC, World Beyond War, Temblores ONG and Juventud Rebelde.
Plaza Central, Torre Enfermeria, National University of Colombia, Bogotá.
Thu, 15 May 2025, 12:00 PM, Milan (Italy). Convivial meeting at the Lega Obiettori di Coscienza in via Mario Pichi 1 – Milan. MM Porta Genova. From 15:00 we will discuss the topics around conscientious objection and non violence. https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86102902315?pwd=p3cEfPOYAM900SejlzcAn9NwbMh0wV.1
Thu, 15 May 2025, 2 PM, Washington. Center on Conscience and War, Veterans for Peace and Refuser Solidarity Network will be hosting the “Voices of Conscientious”. Three speakers, each picked by the representing organizations, are going to talk about their journey of being a conscientious objector. https://zoom.us/j/94454440356?pwd=Isb6qzTnYW35T33m75ncGfAvdy2D6C.1
Thu, May 15 2025, 2:00-5:00 PM, Oldenburg (Oldb).
Vigil “Remember – Admonish – Protect – Asylum for ALL deserters and conscientious objectors.” Organized by the Antimilitarist Project Oldenburg (APO).
Location: Intersection of Cloppenburger and Bremer Straße.
Thu, 15 May 2025, Online.
South Korea: Conscientious Objectors – Three Years of Prison-like Alternative Service.” Online event held in Korean. Interpretation not available. Register here.
Thu, 15 May 2025, 07:30 PM ( Time in Turkey), Istanbul.
CO Watch will gather at the Kadiköy Forum in Istanbul to explore conscientious objection and civil disobedience as peacful forms of restiance. The discussion will focus on finding new ways to resist violence and militarism under oppressive regimes.
Location: Kadiköy Forum, Yogurtçu Park, Istanbul.
Thu, 15 May 2025, 1:00 PM, London.
National Ceremony – International Conscientious Objectors’ Day.
Join us at the Conscientious Objectors´Memorial Stone in Tavistock Square, London WC1 H9 for the national commemoration. More info here.
Thursday, 15th May 2025, 11am, Carlisle. Carlisle Quaker Meeting (Cumberland Area Meeting) is holding a vigil on May 15th from 11.00-11.20am at the memorial stone in Hardwicke Circus, Carlisle. Everyone is invited to a shared lunch afterwards at the Meeting House. Location: The memorial stone in Hardwicke Circus, Carlisle.
Thursday, 15th May 2025, 12:30 pm, Liverpool. Pax Christi, with the support of the Quakers, will celebrate CO Day with a ceremony of readings and music to celebrate the lives of conscientious objectors both past and present. Location: In front of the Law Courts, Derby Square, Liverpool City Centre
Thursday, 15th May 2025, 12:30 pm, Wokingham. There will be a short vigil to mark CO Day on Thursday 15th May 2025, 12.30 – 13.30. Location: Howard Palmer Gardens, behind Cock Pit Path, Wokingham, RG40 2HD.
Thursday, 15th May 2025, 1pm, Oxford. Featuring readings, poems and speeches honouring COs from WW1 and WW2, and from current conflicts around the world. With songs from Didcot Red Kites and Oxford Seagreen Singers. Location: CO plaque in Bonn Square, Oxford OX1 1LQ (If wet in New Road Baptist Church, Bonn Square)
Thursday, 15th May 2025, 2:30pm, National Memorial Arboretum. To mark CO Day on May 15th, Staffordshire Quakers will be holding a meeting for worship at the Quaker Service Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum, starting at 2.30pm. Location: The Quaker Service Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire.
Thursday, 15th May 2025, 6pm, Leicester. All welcome to this event to mark CO Day in Leicester, at the CO Marker Stone on Peace Walk. It will be followed by an international online event organised by groups in Leicester on the 18th. Location: CO Marker Stone, Peace Walk (down from Victoria Park Arch of Remembrance War Memorial).
Thursday,15th May 2025, 6:15pm, Edinburgh. Meet at 6.15pm for 6.30pm Thursday 15 May at the Peace Tree in Princes Street Gardens for songs from Protest in Harmony, hear about COs and an update on the Opposing War Memorial. Contributions from Protest in Harmony, Israeli Refuser Solidarity Network and David Mackenzie (Trident Ploughshares and Secure Scotland), on opposition to the tides of war globally. Location: The Peace Tree in Princes Street Gardens (Edinburgh) between the Bandstand and the Fountain in West Princes St Gardens. You can enter via the pedestrian gate south of North Castle Street.
Thu, 15 May 2025, 2:00 – 07:00 PM, Greifswald.
Information booth on Greifswald’s market square. Organized by Greifswald’s Peace Now Initiative. Location: Greifswalder Marktplatz.
Thu, 15 May 2025, 4:00 – 6: PM, in Schwerin. Rally on Marienplatz / Helenenstr. Organized by Internationale der Kriegsdienstgegner*innen
Thu, 15 May 2025, 4:00 PM, Mainz.
Rally on Gutenbergplatz. Organized by DFG-VK and others.
Thu, 15 May 2025, 3:00 PM, Mannheim.
Information booth in front of Mannheim Central Station.
Thu, 15 May 2025, 6.30 PM, Hannover. Unabhängiges Jugendzentrum Korn (UJZ Korn), Kornstr. 28. Event with Artem Klyga (Connection e.V.)
Thu, 15 May 2025, 5:00 PM, Bonn.
Rally for the International Day of Conscientious Objection.
With contributions from Etta Fennekohl (beuel Peace Group), Laura Neubauer (Women’s Network for Peace), Thomas Kaut (War and Peace Working Group), and Martin Singe (pax christi Bonn). Musical accompaniment by Gerd Schinkel. Organized by the pax christi group and other local peace initiatives. Location: Martinsplatz, Bonn.
Thu, 15 May 2025, 6:00 PM, Stuttgart.
Rally to Mark the International Day of Conscientious Objection.
Held at the site where, according to a city resolution, the Deserters’ Memorial was to be erected in 2023.
Location: Intersection Dorotheenstraße / Goerdelerstraße (next to Hotel Silber).
Thu, 15 May 2025, 3:00-05:00 PM, Marburg.
Awarness Campaign and Information Booth. Organized by the Marburg Alliance “No to War!”. Location: Gerhard-Jahn-Platz, 35037 Marburg.
Fri, 16 May 2025, 6:00 PM, Göttingen
The Human Right to Conscientious Objection and the Right to Asylum for Deserters in Germany, with Franz Nadler (Connection e.V.).
Location: OM10, Obere Maschstr. 10 in 37073 Göttingen.
Fri, 16 May 2025, 07:00 PM (Time in Turkey), Istanbul.
Panel: Civil Disobedience and Conscientious Objection. CO Watch will participate in a panel discussion hosted by Ayrişim Bookshop Cafe to explore the themes of civil disobedience and conscientious objection.
Location: Ayrişim Bookshop Cafe, Kadiköy, Istanbul.
Friday, 16th May 2025, 4pm Medellín. Discussion: “The ABC of Conscientious Objection” Organised by Alternativa Antimilitarista Medellín and the Medellín Library System. Location: Santa Elena Library, Medellín.
Fri, 16 May 2025, starting at 10:34 AM, Bielefeld.
Day 14 of the 2025 Nature Friends Peace Hike.
Departure from Bielefeld Central Station at 10:34 AM.
Highlightsinclude a visit to Stalag 326 in Schoß Holte-Stukenbrock, hike along the Senne River, and live music with the “Buschkamp Combo” – sing-alongs encouraged!
Fri, 16 May 2025, from approx. 11 AM, Osterholz-Scharmbeck.
Action in Support of the #ObjectWarCampaign. Organized by the Osterholz Peace Alliance. Location: Marktplatz in Scharmbeck.
Sat, 17 May 2025, 11:00 AM, Berlin.
Music instead of War! Concert for the Unknown Deserters.
Location: Pariser Platz in Berlin. With music by Lebenslaute.
Contributions by Ole Nymoen (Podcaster und author of the book “Why I never would fight for my country – Against to be ready for war”), Artem Klyga (Lawyer from Russia and expert counsellor for Eastern European conscientious objectors and deserters), Andrii Konovalov (Ukrainian war resisters), Emanuel Matondo (Angolan conscientious objector), Or (Israelian war resisters, active with New Profile), Rudi Friedrich (Connection e.V.). The event in Berlin is organised by: Connection e.V., Deutsche Friedensgesellschaft – Vereinigte KriegsdienstgegnerInnen, Pax Christi Dt. Sektion, VVN-BdA Berlin, IPPNW, NaturFreunde Deutschlands and Internationale der Kriegsdienstgegner*innen and War Resisters‘ International.
Sun, 18 May 2025, 3:00 – 06:00 PM, Nottuln. Festival for Democracy and Peace.
At this festival, we will raise awarness and promote conscientious objection. The event is organized by the Peace Initiative Nottuln.
Sunday, 18th May 2025, 7:00 pm, Leicester International Online – Remembering Conscientious Objectors Yesterday and Today. An online event following CO Day, honouring the memory of COs across history. How to register: for Zoom link and more details please email abolton2@live.com
Mon, 19 May 2025, 07:00 PM, Nottuln. Film and discussion: The Love of Life.
A film about Wehrmacht deserter Ludwig Baumann. Organized by the Nottuln Peace Initiative.
Location: “Ladenlokal“ Potthoff 24.
The Red Antimilitarista de América Latina y el Caribe published a call: Don’t count on us! A call to refuse war and militarisation
#ObjectWarCampaign, May 6, 2025