Editing Conscription (section)

==Conscientious objection==
{{Main|Conscientious objection|Antimilitarism|Conscientious objection throughout the world}}
A [[conscientious objector]] is an individual whose personal beliefs are incompatible with [[Armed forces|military service]], or, more often, with any role in the armed forces.<ref>On July 30, 1993, explicit clarification of the [[International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights]] Article 18 was made in the United Nations [[Human Rights Committee]] general comment 22, Para. 11: {{cite web|url=http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/FreedomReligion/Pages/IstandardsI3k.aspx|title=Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief. Framework for communications. Conscientious Objection|publisher=Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights|access-date=2012-05-07|archive-date=2017-09-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926040943/http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/FreedomReligion/Pages/IstandardsI3k.aspx}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ohchr.org/EN/ProfessionalInterest/Pages/CCPR.aspx|title=International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; See Article 18|publisher=Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights|access-date=2008-05-15}}</ref> In some countries, conscientious objectors have special legal status, which augments their conscription duties. For example, Sweden allows conscientious objectors to choose a service in the weapons-free [[civil defense]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Att vara vapenfri|url=https://www.pliktverket.se/monstring-och-varnplikt/monstring/att-vara-vapenfri|access-date=2022-02-24|website=www.pliktverket.se|language=sv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Total defence service, civilian service|url=https://www.krisinformation.se/en/hazards-and-risks/hojd-beredskap-och-krig/total-defence-service|access-date=2025-04-06|website=Krisinformation.se|date=6 March 2025 |publisher=Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250317142313/https://www.krisinformation.se/en/hazards-and-risks/hojd-beredskap-och-krig/total-defence-service|archive-date=2025-03-17}}</ref>

The reasons for refusing to serve in the military are varied. Some people are conscientious objectors for religious reasons. In particular, the members of the historic [[peace churches]] are [[pacifism|pacifist]] by doctrine, and [[Jehovah's Witnesses]], while not strictly pacifists, refuse to participate in the armed forces on the ground that they believe that Christians should be neutral in international conflicts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jw.org/en/news/legal/legal-resources/information/packet-conscientious-objection-military-service/|title=Conscientious Objection to Military Service {{pipe}} Information Packet|website=JW.ORG}}</ref>