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Resolution 903 (1988)
Right to association for members of the professional staff of the armed forces
The Assembly,
1. Considering that Article 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights guarantees everyone the right to freedom of association with others, including the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests ;
2. Considering that, in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 11 of the convention, restrictions may be placed on the exercise of these rights, both in general and in particular, by members of the armed forces, of the police or of the administration of the state ;
3. Considering that there are similar provisions in other international instruments ;
4. Considering that members of the armed forces should be considered as citizens in uniform;
5. Considering that members of the armed forces, whether they are conscripts or professional servicemen serving for longer periods, should not become isolated from democratic society and must experience, at first hand, the democracy which they are protecting and thus contribute to its vitality ;
6. Considering that members of the armed forces should always observe and accept the hierarchical order, and that there must be restrictions imposed upon them such as an interdiction of the right to strike
7. Recalling its Resolution 690 (1979), on the Declaration on the Police,
8. Calls on all member states of the Council of Europe -insofar as they have not yet done so -to grant professional members of the armed forces of all ranks the right, under normal circumstances, to establish, join and actively participate in specific associations formed to protect their professional interests within the framework of democratic institutions.