Paul Westerman v. the Netherlands

Paul Westerman v. the Netherlands
Date: 
13/12/1999

The case concerned a conscientious objector whose application for conscientious objection had been rejected by the Dutch authorities. He subsequently refused to put on a uniform when called up for military service. He was then sentenced to nine months' imprisonment.
The Committee observes that the authorities of the State party evaluated the facts and arguments advanced by the author in support of his claim for exemption as a conscientious objector in the light of its legal provisions in regard to conscientious objection and that these legal provisions are compatible with the provisions of article 18. (...) The Committee observes that the author failed to satisfy the authorities of the State party that he had an "insurmountable objection of conscience to military service.. because of the use of violent means” (para. 5). There is nothing in the circumstances of the case which requires the Committee to substitute its own evaluation of this issue for that of the national authorities.

Recognition of CO Not recognised