Czech Republic: Information on the penalty for refusal to perform military service, on conscientious objection and civilian service, on the grounds under which civilian service is allowed, and on a decision by the Constitutional Court on conscientious objection mentioned in Amnesty International's 1996 Annual Report
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 April 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | CZE26690.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Czech Republic: Information on the penalty for refusal to perform military service, on conscientious objection and civilian service, on the grounds under which civilian service is allowed, and on a decision by the Constitutional Court on conscientious objection mentioned in Amnesty International's 1996 Annual Report, 1 April 1997, CZE26690.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ace258.html [accessed 22 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
For information on conscientious objection in the Czech Republic, including the reasons whereby civilian service would be permitted, please consult the attachment from Conscientious Objection to Military Service - A Human Right. For the views of a government official and a representative of a nongovernmental organization on a 1996 Amnesty International report, and for information on the treatment of two persons for not initiating their military service, please consult the 26 June 1996 Prague Post attachment and the 18 June 1996 CTK attachment. The former attachment states the penalty for those conscientious objectors who miss the civilian service application deadline. For a general appraisal of conscientious objection in the Czech Republic, please consult the 8 May 1996 Reuters attachment. For earlier information on conscientious objection, please consult Response to Information Request CZE16939.E of 25 March 1994.
Additional information on the above-mentioned topics could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Attachments
CTK National News Wire. 18 June 1996. "Amnesty Report Criticises Law on Defaming President." (NEXIS)
Dus, Jan A. 1996. "Alternative Civilian Service in the Czech Republic 1995," Conscientious Objection to Military Service - A Human Right. Bremen: Conference of European Churches, pp. 2, 3, 81, 82.
The Prague Post. 26 June 1996. Jan Stojaspal. Czech Justice Defends Itself Against Amnesty International Criticism." (NEXIS)
Reuters. 8 May 1996. BC Cycle. "MEP Attacks Human Rights Record in Eastern Europe." (NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
Amnesty International Report. Yearly.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. Yearly.
CSCE Digest [Washington]. Monthly.
DIRB country file on the Czech Republic.
DIRB databases.
Human Rights Watch World Report. Yearly.
News from Helsinki Watch [New York]. Monthly.
Transition [Prague]. Twice monthly.
Uncaptive Minds [Washington]. Quarterly.
On-line search of media sources.
Unsuccessful attempts to contact oral sources.
