European Bureau for Conscientious Objection

The European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) is a European umbrella organisation for national peace organisations supporting conscientious objectors. Its seat is in Brussels and it was founded in 1979. Its aim is to organise solidarity campaigns for conscientious objectors facing legal charges in European countries as well as to lobby for the rights of conscientious objection to military services n European institutions. Together with War Resisters' International, which is also one of its members, it is considered one of the leading international NGOs working on conscientious objection.
Objectives.
ECBO stands up for the right to conscientious objection to abstain from warfare or any other military activity as well as from preparations to them. They claim this right as a human right. They lobby for the right to asylum for conscientious objectors, if their home countries don't recognise their rights accordingly. They also promote the abolition of conscription as well as cuts in military budgets.
Activities.
The organisation creates a network between national organisations from Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Russia., Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and United Kingdom. Since 2017, Friedhelm Schneider from Germany acts as the organisation's president.
The organisation lobbied for European countries to sign and ratify the Optional Protocol on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict to the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
ECBO writes reports and conducts research on conscientious objection around Europe. Since at least 2008, ECBO writes an annual repport on conscientious objection and civilian service for the European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs.
ECBO has participatory status with the Council of Europe since 1998. Since 2005, it is also a member of the INGOs Conference of the Council of Europe. Since 1995, it is a full member of the European Youth Forum.