To: The Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Defence
No military conscription
We, the signatories of this petition, are deeply alarmed by the rising debate on military conscription in the UK.
We call on the UK government:
- To rule out any future introduction of conscription - mandatory national service or registration - in the UK.
- To assert and uphold the rights of conscientious objectors, ensuring protection for those who refuse to participate in the armed forces.
Why is this important?
For the first time in generations, the threat of conscription seems very real. We must act now to oppose it.
With heightened debate around insecurity, we are hearing growing calls for the re-introduction of some form of compulsory national service.
This would require Parliament to pass a new law, which could legislate for mandatory registration of young people, as is happening in Germany, and/or some form of compulsory national service.
Conscription, if introduced, would primarily target young people, depriving them of liberty and political agency. Members of the armed forces are required to fight, kill and die at the behest of the government. They are stripped of many of their legal rights.
A series of scandals has revealed high levels of abuse in the armed forces, especially affecting women and people of colour. Military service often has a long-lasting traumatising effect on service personnel and their families.
We reject conscription as a moral affront and an attack on human rights. It deprives young people of choices and opportunity at a vital time in their lives.
To force military service on the population would involve a colossal waste of funds. During a cost of living crisis these resources are desperately needed elsewhere.
With war escalating around the world and record number of civilian casualties, now is the time to stand up for peaceful and cooperative approaches to conflict resolution.
Joining the armed forces is a political and moral choice that should never be forced on anyone. As a matter of urgency, the government must rule out reintroducing military conscription in the UK!
The petition is organised by the UK working group for International Conscientious Objectors' Day - a coalition of 13 peace organisations.
The petition is organised by the UK working group for International Conscientious Objectors' Day - a coalition of 13 peace organisations.
How it will be delivered
The petition will be handed in to 10 Downing Street and the Ministry of Defence.
