Cpti.ws
Title
Conscience and Peace Tax International
Description
Conscience and Peace Tax International (CPTI) was founded in Hondarribia, Spain, on September 17, 1994. It was incorporated as an international non-profit association in Belgium by Royal Decree of March 20, 1996 and by publication of its articles of association on July 4, 1996 in the official Bijlagen tot het Belgisch Staatsblad (number 15.075/96). CPTI was granted ‘special consultative status’ with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the UNO in July 1999.
The aim of the association is to obtain recognition of the right to conscientious objection to paying for armaments and war preparation and war conduct through taxes. It does this by means that conform to Belgian and international law. The association may also support the struggle of conscientious objectors and the struggle for the recognition of human rights generally. In furtherance of these objects the association lobbies international organizations, such as the United Nations, in order to obtain and/or improve legal and other instruments, which may be national and international legislation, conventions, resolutions, directives, declarations, etc. The association publicizes efforts to obtain recognition of the afore-said right. It facilitates coordination of similar activities of national movements at the international level.
The principle of conscience, a moral imperative governing the behavior of an individual, is central to the objectives and work of CPTI. Conscientious objection to war is a well-established concept in many western countries and the rights of conscientious objectors are enshrined in many countries in legislation relating to conscription. However the changes in warfare require an extension of legislation. Modern warfare is now more dependent on money than on physical conscripts, but fiscal conscripts have no legal mechanism for preventing their money, their taxes, being used to wage war. It is this that led to the establishment of many national movements and of CPTI.
