Cambodia to enforce conscription in 2026
Cambodia’s Prime Minister, Hun Manet, recently announced the enforcement of a long-dormant conscription law starting in 2026, requiring citizens aged 18 to 30 to serve in the military. WRI finds this development deeply concerning. Mandatory conscription represents a direct step toward militarising societies. We are particularly alarmed that Cambodia has no legal framework to recognise those who refuse military service on grounds of conscience.
Thailand: Drop Charges Against Conscientious Objector Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal
We, the undersigned organisations, express our strong support for Netiwit Chotiphatphaisal, Thailand’s first public conscientious objector, who faces trial at the Provincial Court of Samut Prakan on 10–11 September 2025. Netiwit’s refusal to serve, first declared as a teenager after the Thai military seized power in 2014, is a matter of conscience. His refusal is not only a deeply personal act of conscience, but also a stance that international law recognises and protects.
“I’ll Never Feel Secure”: HRW Report Reveals Exploitation of Myanmar Nationals Fleeing Conscription
A recent report, "I’ll Never Feel Secure: Undocumented and Exploited Myanmar Nationals in Thailand", by Human Rights Watch, highlights the struggles of Myanmar nationals in Thailand, many of whom fled forced military conscription under the 2024 National Service Law and continue to face severe human rights violations.
Refusing to serve: Israeli youth stand against genocide in Gaza
A group of Israeli teenagers has publicly declared their refusal to serve in the Israeli military, protesting against the genocide in Gaza and the ongoing occupation of Palestinian territories. The refusers are calling for an end to the war in Gaza and urging others to resist conscription.