Korean Conscientious Objectors To Go To United Nations

Today's Korea Times reports that eleven conscientious objectors will submit a complaint to the United Nations Human Rights Committee arguing that Korea's refusal to recognize conscientious objectors to military service violates their basic human rights to freedom of thought and religion. Since 2001, 3,655 Koreans have refused to serve in the military for religious and moral reasons. Most of them have been sentenced to prison terms. Korea's Constitutional Court has upheld the government, but the National Human Rights Commission in 2005 recommended a change in government policy. (See prior posting.)