The regulations governing this right have so far not been publicly available, although War Resisters' International did make a leaked copy of the regulations for the army available on its website since 2003 [3]. Andreas Speck, conscientious objection worker at War Resisters' International, comments: "The non-availability of regulations governing a fundamental human right, enshrined in Article 18 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), prevents members of the Armed Forces effectively from exercising their right. It is therefore not a surprise that - according to the information obtained from the MoD - only six members of the Armed Forces applied for conscientious objection since 2000".

In its report to the Human Rights Committee, War Resisters' International raises five major concerns:
- The regulations governing the right to conscientious objection are not in the public domain, and information is difficult to obtain by members of the public, and also by members of the Armed Forces.
- Decision making on an application for conscientious objection in the first instance is by the respective branch of the Armed Forces itself, and not by an independent body. Only the appeal body – the Advisory Committee on Conscientious Objection – is an independent body.
- It is disturbing that the Royal Air Force does not allow applications for discharge on grounds of conscience while disciplinary action is ongoing, or the conscientious objector is absent without leave or a deserter.
- Members of the Armed Forces “are not to take any active part in the affairs of any political organisation, party or movement. They are not to participate in political marches or demonstrations”. This is a serious infringement of the right to freedom of association and to freedom of peaceful assembly, as enshrined in Article 21 and 22 ICCPR.
- Members of the Armed Forces are prohibited from standing in parliamentary elections, and need to seek approval from the Ministry of Defence to stand in local authority elections. This is a serious infringement of Article 25 paragraph (b) of the ICCPR.[4]


Andreas Speck comments: "While Britain is certainly not the worst offender in terms of the human right to conscientious objection, it is also equally certain that the British regulations do not meet international standards, as defined by the Human Rights Committee. The semi-secret status of the three different regulations, and the inconsistences between the regulations for the different services don't make things easier for soldiers who develop a conscientious objection. It is high time that Britain brings its regulations in line with international standards".

For more information, call Andreas Speck on +44-20-7278 4040

War Resisters' International, 20 September 2007
Notes to editors:
[1] The response from the Ministry of Defence is available on the WRI website at  http://wri-irg.org/news/2007/modindex-en.htm:
- Cover letter 17-08-2007-161349-004 Speck (Ministry of Defence) ( http://wri-irg.org/news/2007/MOD/MOD%20Speck%20cover%20letter.pdf)
- ARMED FORCES POLICY ON CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS (Ministry of Defence) ( http://wri-irg.org/news/2007/MOD/MOD%20General%20CO%20Policy.pdf)
- AGAIs Vol 5 INSTRUCTION 006 - RETIREMENT OR DISCHARGE ON GROUNDS OF CONSCIENCE (Royal Army) ( http://wri-irg.org/news/2007/MOD/Army%20AGAI%20on%20CO.pdf)
- PERSONNEL, LEGAL, ADMINISTRATIVE AND GENERAL ORDERS 0801. APPLICATION FOR DISCHARGE ON GROUNDS OF CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION (Royal Navy) ( http://wri-irg.org/news/2007/MOD/Royal%20Navy%20Sect%208%20on%20CO.pdf)
- PROCEDURE FOR DEALING WITH CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS WITHIN THE ROYAL AIR FORCE ( http://wri-irg.org/news/2007/MOD/RAF%20AP%20Vol%205%20Leaflet.pdf)
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[2] The Human Rights Committee is the Treaty body overseeing the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Britain is a signatory. In its 91st session (October 2007) the Committee will draw up a list of issues, and in its 93rd session in July 2008 it will examine the human rights situation in Britain in detail.
[3]  http://wri-irg.org/pdf/co_uk_army.pdf
[4] War Resisters' International: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Human Rights and the Armed Forces. Submission to the 21st Session of the Human Rights Committee: October 2007. The report will be available on the WRI website from 24 September on.