Conscientious objector case

Concerning X vs. Denmark for violation of articles 7, 14 and 18 of CCPR.

The author, X, is an Eritrean national, but spent his entire life outside Eritrea. He is a member of a Christian religious minority, who refuses to perform military performance. He will therefore be regarded as an opponent of the regime in Eritrea, where all men and women are forced to perform military service. If they resist, they can be subjected to incarceration without trial (sometimes for up to 14 years) and torture in detention. The Committee considers that the State party failed to recognize the author’s potential status as an individual subject to a real risk of ill-treatment, and therefore, article 7 would be violated if the author is deported.

19. March 2024

CCPR 2007/2010
  • Decision: 26 March 2014
  • Comm: Human Rights