As Denmark bolsters its national defense amid rising security threats in Europe, a new law mandating military service for women is now effective. Under this law, women will participate in a lottery system for conscription when they turn 18, effectively changing the previous voluntary framework.
Danish Legislation Mandates Military Conscription for Women Through Lottery System
Danish Legislation Mandates Military Conscription for Women Through Lottery System
Denmark implements a landmark law requiring women to register for military service at 18 alongside men, following heightened security concerns.
Starting from Tuesday, both genders will be required to register for potential military service assessments. While volunteers will be recruited first, any remaining needed personnel will be chosen through a lottery draw. Additionally, the length of conscription has been extended from four to eleven months. In 2024, approximately 4,700 individuals, including about 24% female volunteers, completed abbreviated military service, but with the revised structure, the number of conscripts is expected to swell to 6,500 annually by 2033.
This policy aligns Denmark with neighboring Sweden and Norway, which have also instituted conscription for women in recent years. As part of its commitment to NATO, Denmark recently announced an increase in defense spending of 40.5 billion Danish crowns (£4.3 billion, $5.9 billion) over the next five years to fulfill its alliance obligations.
Currently, around 9,000 professional personnel serve in Denmark's military. Colonel Kenneth Strom, who leads the conscription program, stated that the decision was politically driven and focused on enhancing military capabilities in light of existing security challenges. Current military volunteer Katrine expressed her support for the changes, stating that in the current global climate, it's essential for women to contribute equally to national defense.
With these measures, Denmark aims to strengthen its military personnel pool while promoting shared responsibilities in national defense across genders.
This policy aligns Denmark with neighboring Sweden and Norway, which have also instituted conscription for women in recent years. As part of its commitment to NATO, Denmark recently announced an increase in defense spending of 40.5 billion Danish crowns (£4.3 billion, $5.9 billion) over the next five years to fulfill its alliance obligations.
Currently, around 9,000 professional personnel serve in Denmark's military. Colonel Kenneth Strom, who leads the conscription program, stated that the decision was politically driven and focused on enhancing military capabilities in light of existing security challenges. Current military volunteer Katrine expressed her support for the changes, stating that in the current global climate, it's essential for women to contribute equally to national defense.
With these measures, Denmark aims to strengthen its military personnel pool while promoting shared responsibilities in national defense across genders.
