LEGAL REGULATION OF ALTERNATIVE (NON-MILITARY) SERVICE IN AUSTRIA: LESSONS FOR UKRAINE

<p>The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the legal framework regulating alternative (nonmilitary) service in the Republic of Austria. It explores the legislative and regulatory basis of civilian service as a constitutionally recognized form of fulfilling national defense obligations for individuals who object to military service on grounds of conscience. Special attention is given to the Zivildienstgesetz (Civilian Service Act) of 1986 and related secondary legal acts that govern procedures for declaration submission, service assignments, deferrals, exemptions, and disciplinary or administrative accountability. The publication offers an in-depth examination of the rights and obligations of individuals performing alternative service, including their duties during the service period, required professional training, medical examinations, confidentiality obligations, and the protection of labor and social insurance rights. Particular focus is placed on procedural mechanisms for temporary exemptions due to education or personal hardship, the possibility of splitting the service period into two parts, and the legal consequences of withdrawing a previously submitted declaration for civilian service. Austria’s approach is distinguished by a high degree of legal precision, a human-rights-oriented implementation of freedom of conscience, and a well-structured administrative apparatus. The author highlights the relevance of the Austrian experience for countries in the process of developing or reforming their own systems of alternative service — especially Ukraine, where the legal institutionalization of such service is of heightened importance in the context of ongoing armed conflict. The conclusions may serve as a basis for adapting Austria’s model to domestic legal systems.</p>