Switzerland: women will now serve in the army one day

How big is the change regarding the obligation to serve for women?

The revolution was underway, but Viola Amherdwho has just announced his resignation for March 31, 2025 and who has been rumored to be leaving for some time now, has made the choice of a rather modest step. Therefore, women will have to follow the information day in the future. They will remain free to decide whether they then want to attend recruit school and even, if necessary, pursue a military career. The future former Minister of Defense will therefore not introduce a real obligation to serve for women.

What does the Federal Council expect?

Women must have “an in-depth overview of the opportunities offered by the army and Civil Protection,” notes the Federal Council in a press release. Through this change, Bern supports equal opportunities. Furthermore, the government hopes, and even says it is “convinced”, that in the future more women will voluntarily enlist in the army after participating in the information day.

Will the Swiss have their say?

Making a single day compulsory for women may seem trivial, but from an official point of view, the signal is strong. The Constitution will indeed have to be amended, because women will one day miss work. The Confederation must be able to regulate this new obligation. Any modification of the Constitution must systematically be put to a vote.

What changes for men?

None. But, given that the compulsory information day for women alone will not completely resolve the lack of resources in the army and Civil Protection, the Federal Council has entrusted the Valais centrist with an additional mandate, that of examining the two variants of a new model of military service.

What are these two alternatives?

The first model is called the “obligation to serve safely.” Only men would continue to be required to do so. The civil service and Civil Protection would, however, be brought together so that protection against disasters is strengthened. The second model, the “needs-based duty to serve,” would extend the duty to serve to women. Ultimately, not all Swiss people will have to join the army, civil service or Civil Protection, but only those who want to. At the same time, an obligation to serve for foreigners must be considered.

What else is on the agenda?

An initiative is currently underway. This is the “Citizen Service Initiative”. She is in favor of an active Switzerland in which solidarity, social cohesion and a sense of commitment are evident, whether in the army, in Civil Protection or in the civil service. The Federal Council rejects the initiative and does not propose a counter-project. It will be the turn of parliament, then, if it does not decide on a counter-project either, it will be the turn of the voters to vote on the initiative.

When does the Federal Council intend to introduce the mandatory information day for women?

The team of the resigning federal councilor must develop a project by the end of the year on which the cantons, parties and other organizations can provide their comments. It will then be the turn of parliament to decide. If the Federal Assembly says yes, the vote will follow. But this will probably not take place before 2027.

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Larissa Rhyn is deputy head of the Switzerland section. Previously, she worked as a correspondent at the Federal Palace for the SRF and the NZZ in Bern. She studied political science and international relations in Zurich, Montreal and Geneva. More info

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