GovernmentArmy orientation day to become compulsory for women
SDA
15.1.2025 - 14:00
In future, young women will have to attend the orientation day for military service, as is already the case for men. The Federal Council is making a new attempt at the necessary constitutional amendment and has ordered a consultation draft.
Keystone-SDA
15.01.2025, 14:00
SDA
Women should be given an insight into the possibilities and opportunities that the military and civil defense offer them, as the Federal Council wrote on Wednesday. The aim is to encourage more women to opt for voluntary service than is currently the case. And it sees the change as an improvement in equal opportunities.
A mandatory army orientation day for women has already failed once. Work on the project was discontinued in 2018 because the cantons opposed the mandatory requirement and the associated constitutional amendment.
According to the Federal Council, both compulsory service models that have been under discussion for some time are suitable in order to have enough personnel for the army and civil defense. Both would entail roughly the same level of investment and annual costs for the Confederation and cantons. The Federal Council also wants to examine the "participation of foreign nationals in compulsory service".
The Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) has been tasked with submitting a proposal to the Federal Council by the end of 2027 on how to proceed with service models.