Report by Mr Alvaro Gil-Robles, The Commissioner for Human Rights, on his visit to Cyprus, 25-29 June 2003

“40. The term of military service is normally 26 months. Defence Act 2/92 of January 1992 recognises conscientious objection on ethical, moral, humanitarian, philosophical, political or religious grounds. However, the alternative service offered is a very long period of non-armed service; it is for either 34 months to be undergone in uniform within army precincts or for 42 months without a uniform and outside army precincts. These regulations do not correspond to the standards of the Council of Europe. (...)
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
76. (…) - To modify the legal arrangements concerning conscientious objection and alternative service in accordance with the Recommen­dations of the Committee of Ministers in the matter; in particular, to alter the practice whereby the medical reasons for granting exemp­tion from the obligation to perform military service are recorded on the certificate of exemption”.
CommDH(2004)2