3. Approaches This section deals with the various approaches of OSCE participating States and the relevant international commitments concerning: the reasons for conscientious objection; the availability of alternative service; the position of professional members of the regular armed forces; the question of selective conscientious objection; and procedural aspects of determining conscientious-objection claims. Reasons for conscientious objection Some religious groups (for example, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Quakers) have a religious objection to military service. However, conscientious objections are not limited to religious reasons. UN Human Rights Commission Resolution 1998/77 states that “conscientious objection to military service derives from principles and reasons of conscience, including profound convictions, arising from religious, ethical, humanitarian or similar motives”, and also calls upon states “not to discriminate amongst conscientious objectors on the basis of their particular beliefs”. In a 2001 report to the Commission on Human Rights, the UN special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief stated: First of all, the issue is one of discriminatory or intolerant policies, legislation or State practice, or even indifference on the part of State institutions which is prejudicial to minorities, be they of the “major religions” or other religious and faith-based communities. Such minorities are mainly affected by … non-recognition of conscientious objection, no provision for alternative civilian service, and the punitive nature of this civilian service by reason of its duration, which particularly affects the Jehovah’s Witnesses and other religious and faith-based communities … .126 Box 10.5 Recognition of Grounds for Conscientious Objection Grounds Religious Ethical/Philosophical Emotional Other Countries Austria, Belarus, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United States Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia and Montenegro, Sweden, Switzerland, United States Austria, Denmark, Georgia, Germany, Norway, Portugal, Russian Federation, Serbia and Montenegro, Sweden Canada, Estonia, Germany, Russian Federation, United States Notes: Participating States not replying: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, United Kingdom. In Belgium, the relevant provisions have been suspended, together with the legal provisions regarding conscription, as conscription has been suspended since 1992. 126  “Civil and Political Rights, Including Religious Intolerance, Report submitted by Mr. Abdelfattah Amor, Special Rapporteur, in accordance with Commission on Human Rights resolution 2000/33”, UN Economic and Social Council, Commission on Human Rights, Fifty-seventh session, 13 February 2001, E/CN.4/2001/63, para. 182. 80 Handbook on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Armed Forces Personnel