The 16th International Conference of War Tax Resistance and Peace Tax Campaigns originally planned for September 2021 will now take place  in Geneva from Friday 16th to Sunday 19th September 2022.

We have chosen these dates to coincide with the 51st Session of the UN Human Rights Council, at which it is expected that the quadrennial resolution on conscientious objection to military service (also postponed from 2021) will be put forward.  There will be an opportunity to stay on in Geneva after the conference and register to join the sessions and we are inviting officials from UN to enlighten us about how the organisation works and how we can take best advantage of our association with it.

We have launched our new website - www.peacetaxinternational.org - and this will have an application form on it as well as the latest plans for the conference.  Meanwhile we can give you our outline plan below.

Preliminary Programme

Friday 17th arrivals

• supper – Britannia Pub or La Brasserie (both close to the main railway station)
• Introductory Session - national reports (?)

Saturday 18th

• General Assembly, Quaker House, 13 Avenue de Mervelet, 09.00 – 18.00
• Lunch:  Tea Room du Bouchet
• Supper: Fondue at Café de Soleil, Petit Sacconex (c300m) - to be reserved

Sunday 19th

Optional outing by cable car to Le Salève mountain, just across the French border  (costs approx €70), followed by historic "peace trail" walk in Geneva.

Monday 20th – Friday 24th September (and/or if wished Monday 12th – Friday 16th September, or any weekdays in this period)

Opportunity of accreditation to and attendance at UN Human Rights Council.

Proceedings may include (outside speakers subject to consent):

• The history of CPTI (or the Peace Tax movement) Derek Brett (Friday evening or Saturday morning)
• Background to the CO resolution at the Human Rights Council
• NGO panel on lobbying at the UN
• An explicit military tax ?  Case studies - Switzerland and Geneva

Accommodation will be in budget hotels, all the hostel-type accommodation in Geneva being already fully-booked for that weekend.  The cost of the accommodation is included in the conference fee.

Subsistence (free local transport included in room price): allow €30 per day (Geneva is an expensive city).

Conference Fee  covering accommodation booked by CPTI, meals on Friday evening and Saturday lunchtime and evening and miscellaneous costs CHF280 / €270 / £230 , with a 50% supplement for a single room.   Free local transport is included in the room price.  Not covered in the fee are breakfasts and any costs on Sunday.

Before and after the conference cheaper accommodation may be available.  Details about this and UN accreditation can be obtained from Derek Brett.

We hope to set up a voluntary travel cost sharing arrangement to help to broaden the geographical range of participants.

It is envisaged that the main languages will be English, German and Spanish. Professional interpretation will not be provided, but it is hoped that participants will be able to offer informal interpretation as necessary.

Contact:

We have moved to our new website and have set up a registration form on it.  Follow the link to: www.peacetaxinternational.org.

The link to the information page is in the latest news item, right of page and here: https://www.peacetaxinternational.org/conf/2022.