Action Day for the campaign “Another defense is possible”, May 15th 2026
May 15 marks the International Day of Conscientious Objection to Military Service, an occasion to remember that defending one's homeland does not necessarily mean taking up arms. There are alternative, civil, nonviolent and solidarity-based ways to protect one's people and state.
On May 15, 2026, the Conferenza Nazionale Enti per il Servizio Civile is promoting a nationwide day of mobilisation to collect signatures in support of the campaign "Another defence is possible".
The campaign, promoted together with the Rete Italiana Pace Disarmo and Sbilanciamoci!, aims to submit a citizens' legislative initiative to give concrete effect to Article 11 of the Italian Constitution, which renounces war as a means of settling international disputes. The proposed law calls for the establishment of a Department dedicated to civil defence within the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. This would also make it possible to fulfil the constitutional duty to defend the homeland set out in Article 52 through a civil defence structure alternative to the military one.
Filed with the Court of Cassation on 16 March 2026, the proposed law provides for three main points:
- The establishment of a Department of Unarmed and Nonviolent Civil Defence, with a coordinating role among the Civil Peace Corps, Civil Protection and Universal Civil Service.
- Giving every taxpayer the option to allocate 6 per mille of their personal income tax (IRPEF), at no additional cost, towards either military or civilian, unarmed and nonviolent defence.
- The creation of a peace and disarmament research institute to provide scientific support to the Department.
A citizens' legislative initiative is a constitutional instrument that allows citizens to participate directly in the parliamentary legislative process. For a citizens' legislative initiative to be submitted to Parliament for debate and a vote, at least 50,000 signatures from Italian citizens must be collected. The May 15 Action Day aims to launch a mass mobilisation to promote the campaign and invite Italian voters to sign through the Ministry of Justice portal.
Click the following link to sign the proposal: https://firmereferendum.giustizia.it/referendum/open/dettaglio-open/6100008 (go to the website, click on "accedi" in the top right corner and log in with SPID or CIE).
For more information: www.difesacivilenonviolenta.org