REFUSING WAR
Since 2003, when the war in Iraq broke out, Payday has organized or joined a number of international campaigns working with some organisations in the Global Women's Strike (GWS) to support soldiers and conscientious objectors who refuse to fight or men and women who refuse conscription.
We have supported individual campaigns in many countries including Turkey, Greece, Israel the US and the UK. These campaigns were almost always led by women - partners, mothers, sisters, relatives. For many years, with Queer Strike, we joined an international and successful campaign to free Chelsea Manning, a transexual army analyst who leaked thousands of classified military files to Wikileaks.
We have also worked to defeat legislations that punish refuseniks or that exonerate war crimes. We have also opposed rape within the military and military families as well as the mistreatment of soldiers and veterans.
FOR MORE INFORMATION on our support to past campaigns by & with refuseniks, visit www.refusingtokill.net, our former website. For an overview, watch our 2005 video Refusing to Kill - Refuseniks around the world speak out
by Schulstreik gegen die Wehrpflicht
Decisions of the 3rd school strike conference on 18 & 19 July 2026 in Essen
Next school strike against conscription on Friday, September 25! On November 20: day of action in Germany, as there organisations from other countries are also taking action against rearmament, war, and conscription.
By PAYDAY
On 4th July 2026, while Trump and co celebrated the 250th anniversary of the USA, Payday issued a flyer highlighting 250 years of genocide and poverty that their policies led to. Join the many campaigns that demand to Invest in Caring not Killing. From refusing conscription, opposing military spending or demanding a Care Income, we oppose wars that are imposed on us all.
On 12 September in Genoa, a large community gathering issued a call for a general strike demanding to “Break off all relations with Israel”. The gathering was led by the dockers and the grassroots union USB (Unione Sindacale di Base), with the participation of trade unionists and community organizers, coming from various parts of Italy.…
Despite being stripped of citizenship, Rohingya are being dragged into the military, even those who fled to Bangladesh. “I don’t feel safe. If I pass through government checkpoints they will force me to serve in military. I just stay in my home to avoid arrest.”
By Payday
On 17 May, as part of the action weeks around the International Conscientious Objection Day (celebrated on 15 May), Payday will join the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network’s weekly protest to highlight the struggles of refuseniks in Israel and Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, the US, Myanmar…
By Palestine Chronicle
At least 30 Israeli paratrooper reservists have refused to answer their call-up to participate in a planned ground attack in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, Israeli media reported on Sunday [28 April].
By Veterans for Peace
Support Larry Hebert, VFP member and Senior Airman who took a month’s leave from his duty station in Rota, Spain, to start a “Fast for Gaza” in front of the White House.
By Payday
Tal Mitnick has been imprisoned for his refusal to participate in genocide against the Palestinian people. We therefore urge you to release Mr Mitnick, recognise his conscientious objection and stop punishing him for refusing to join the IDF.