Slovak Republic: Availability of alternative service for conscientious objectors, particularly Jehovah's Witnesses, and penalties for failure to complete compulsory military service (1996-present)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 11 April 2000 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | SLK34135.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Slovak Republic: Availability of alternative service for conscientious objectors, particularly Jehovah's Witnesses, and penalties for failure to complete compulsory military service (1996-present), 11 April 2000, SLK34135.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad7730.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
On 1 July 1999 Amnesty International criticized a proposed bill on military service in the Slovak Republic on the grounds that it gave conscripts only a 30-day period within which to claim the right to alternative service ("civil service") (CTK). On the other hand, Amnesty International praised another part of the bill, which shortened the period of alternative service from twice the period of military service to one-and-a-half times the period of military service (ibid.). On 22 March 2000 the Slovak parliament passed the legislation shortening the period of alternative service from 24 months to 18 months; in addition, the new legislation eliminated the 30-day limit to the period during which conscripts could come forward to request alternative service (CTK 22 Mar. 2000). Under the new legislation, conscripts could request alternative service at any time during the period preceding the beginning of their military service (e.g. during a period of deferment for study) (ibid.; Narodna Obroda 14 Jan. 2000).
On 15 February 2000 CTK reported that the Slovak government planned to reduce the period of military service from 12 months to 9 months, and from 18 months to 13.5 months for conscientious objectors performing civilian service.
Specific information on Jehovah's Witnesses could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
Information on issues related to military service in the Slovak Republic, including penalties for failure to serve, can be found in the following two Amnesty International documents, both published in April 1997: Slovak Republic: Restrictions on the Right to Conscientious Objection (accessible through the REFWORLD database) and Out of the Margins: The Right to Conscientious Objection to Military Service in Europe (available at Regional Documentation Centres).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Czech News Agency (CTK). 22 March 2000. "Civilian Service Shortened from 24 to 18 Months." (NEXIS)
_____. 15 February 2000. "Army Personnel to be Cut by 8,000 by 2002." (BBC Summary 17 Feb. 2000/NEXIS)
_____. 1 July 1999. "Amnesty International Against Slovak Civil Service Bill." (NEXIS)
Narodna Obroda [Bratislava, in Slovak]. 14 January 2000. Gabriela Bacharova. "Defense Ministry Plans to Cut Military Service in 2001." (FBIS-EEU-2000-0117 14 Jan. 2000/WNC)
Additional Sources Consulted
IRB databases
Unsuccessful attempt to contact one non-documentary source
Internet sites including:
Amnesty International
Human Rights Watch
Watchtower: the Official Web Site of Jehovah's Witnesses