About CPTI

Conscience and Peace Tax International (CPTI)
A faith- and conscience-based international non-governmental organization in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations since 1999.

Our Mission

Conscience and Peace Tax International (CPTI) works through international human rights mechanisms to secure the recognition and protection of the right to conscientious objection to military service and to military taxation, the fiscal dimension of freedom of conscience.

As modern warfare increasingly relies on financial and technological mobilization alongside physical conscription,individuals of faith and conscience are compelled to participate in war through the tax system. CPTI advocates for international legal standards and national legislation that allow citizens to direct the military portion of their taxes toward peacebuilding, conflict transformation, and international cooperation.

Our Identity: Faith and Conscience in Action

CPTI is recognized within the United Nations system as a faith- and conscience-based organization. Founded by national peace tax campaigns and members of historic peace traditions alongside ethical pacifists, our work reflects the foundational principle of UN Human Rights Committee General Comment No. 22: that freedom of religion or belief and freedom of conscience are inseparable and hold equal weight under international law.

Our advocacy is grounded in three interconnected legal and ethical pillars:

  • Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR): Upholding the absolute, non-derogable nature of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion—, including during states of emergency, martial law, and active armed conflict.

  • The UN #Faith4Rights Framework: Bridging faith-based and ethical principles with international human rights law through peer-to-peer dialogue, technical legal analysis, and the protection of religious and philosophical minorities.

  • The Right to Peace: Advancing international jurisprudence that links individual freedom of conscience with the collective responsibility to build sustainable peace.

United Nations & International Engagement

From our permanent presence in Geneva, CPTI engages constructively with the UN Human Rights Council, the Human Rights Committee, the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), and UN Special Procedures Mandate Holders.

Our work spans two primary areas:

  1. Standard-Setting & Country Reporting: Submitting technical legal briefings, thematic reports, and Universal Periodic Review contributions examining State compliance with international standards on military service,alternative civilian service, and fiscal conscience.

  2. Legal Protection & Quiet Diplomacy: Engaging confidential UN human rights protection mechanisms and diplomatic channels regarding the arbitrary detention, prosecution, or discrimination faced by conscientious objectors, including those from minority faith traditions or operating under de facto authorities, strictly guided by the principle of "do no harm."

At the European level, CPTI is an institutional member of the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) and collaborates closely with partner organizations advocating at the Council of Europe and European Union institutions.

Governance & Legal Status

Founded at an international conference in Hondarribia, Spain, in 1994, Conscience and Peace Tax International (CPTI) is incorporated in England and Wales as a private company limited by guarantee without share capital (Company Number 08514742, incorporated 2 May 2013). Its registered office is located at 1 Peace Passage, Brecknock Road, London, N7 0BT, United Kingdom.

CPTI is governed by its biennial General Assembly and an elected Board of Directors. Our current 2026–2027 strategic mandate was established at the 18th International Conference and General Assembly, convened in Brussels, Belgium, in September 2026.

Leadership & UN Representation:

  • Chair & Company Secretary: Robin Brookes

  • Board members: Derek Brett, Eleanor Forman, Jan Birk, Klaus Waiditschka, Robin Brookes

  • United Nations Representatives: Derek Brett & Klaus Waiditschka

  • Global Advocacy and Communications Coordinator (Geneva): Jez Smith

Contact for Permanent Missions & International Organizations

For inquiries from Permanent Missions, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), UN Treaty Bodies, or Special Procedures regarding thematic briefings, country reports, or confidential submissions, please contact our Geneva representation directly .