Swiss voters are deciding on mandatory national service for women
Photo: AP
Geneva: Swiss voters are casting their ballots to decide whether women, like men, must undertake national service in the military, civil protection teams or in other forms. The referendum on the “citizen service initiative,” which concludes on Sunday, seeks to determine whether national duty should be mandatory for all.
Supporters believe the initiative will strengthen social cohesion by adding essential jobs in environmental prevention, food security and elderly care. Parliament, however, opposes the proposal for reasons linked largely to cost and concerns that removing tens of thousands of young people from the workforce could negatively affect the economy.
What does the proposal aim to address?
Campaigners argued that “clouds are gathering in the skies of a fragmenting Switzerland. On one hand, there are landslides in the mountains, floods in the plains, cyberattacks, risks of energy shortages or war in Europe. On the other, individualism is growing, and solitude and tensions are growing.”
They added that “by proposing a national service for all young people, the initiative responds to exactly what we need: that everybody takes responsibility to work for a stronger Switzerland that’s able to stand up to crises.”
Why is the government opposed?
The government countered that the army and civil defence already have enough staff and that no more people should be recruited than are needed. While it acknowledged that compulsory military service for women might be viewed as “a step toward gender equality,” it said the idea would “place an extra burden on many women, who already shoulder a large part of the unpaid work of raising and caring for children and relatives, as well as household tasks.”
The government further stated that “because equality in the workplace and in society is still not a reality, requiring women to perform civic service would not constitute progress in terms of equality.”
What is the current system?
Young men in Switzerland are required to carry out military service or join civil protection teams. Conscientious objectors may perform other types of service, while those who opt out completely must pay an exemption fee.
The citizen service initiative would require all Swiss citizens to complete national service. Women, who can currently volunteer, would become subject to the same obligation. The initiative also broadens the definition of national security to include areas beyond military or civil protection roles.
What would it cost?
Each year, about 35,000 men undertake mandatory service, at a cost of nearly 1 billion Swiss francs in government allocations and insurance. Approval of the initiative would roughly double both the number of participants and the cost.
The measure would also allow parliament to require foreigners living in Switzerland to undertake public service.
AP inputs
Disclaimer: Kindly avoid objectionable, derogatory, unlawful and lewd comments, while responding to reports. Such comments are punishable under cyber laws. Please keep away from personal attacks. The opinions expressed here are the personal opinions of readers and not that of Mathrubhumi.