The change signals a historic move towards gender equality in military service as Denmark joins neighboring nations in expanding conscription.
Danish Women Face New Conscription Lottery for Military Service
Danish Women Face New Conscription Lottery for Military Service
Denmark implements a lottery system for female conscripts following heightened defense needs.
In a significant shift in military policy, Denmark has enacted a new law that requires women to participate in a conscription lottery when they turn 18, marking a departure from the voluntary military service previously available to them. With this change, which officially took effect on Tuesday, both young men and women must now register for military service assessment, aimed at reinforcing Denmark's armed forces amid increasing security concerns in Europe.
The amended conscription process will first enlist volunteers, while the remaining slots will be filled through a lottery system. Additionally, the duration of compulsory military service has been extended from four to eleven months. In 2024, approximately 4,700 Danish individuals completed military service, with around 24% being female volunteers. This policy change is anticipated to raise the number of annual conscripts to approximately 6,500 by 2033.
This reform aligns Denmark with other Nordic countries like Sweden and Norway, which have also introduced gender-inclusive conscription in recent years. The Danish government previously announced a significant increase of 40.5 billion Danish crowns (around $5.9 billion) in defense budget over the next five years, aiming to meet NATO's defense spending targets.
Currently, Denmark boasts about 9,000 professional service members, and Colonel Kenneth Strom, who leads the conscription program, stated that the policy change is a response to political decisions and the evolving security landscape, enhancing the military's capabilities across all branches. Current volunteer Katrine expressed support for the initiative, highlighting the necessity for women to contribute equally to national defense efforts. "In the world situation we're in right now, it's necessary to have more conscripts, and I think that women should contribute to that equally, as men do. I think it's a positive change," she remarked.
The amended conscription process will first enlist volunteers, while the remaining slots will be filled through a lottery system. Additionally, the duration of compulsory military service has been extended from four to eleven months. In 2024, approximately 4,700 Danish individuals completed military service, with around 24% being female volunteers. This policy change is anticipated to raise the number of annual conscripts to approximately 6,500 by 2033.
This reform aligns Denmark with other Nordic countries like Sweden and Norway, which have also introduced gender-inclusive conscription in recent years. The Danish government previously announced a significant increase of 40.5 billion Danish crowns (around $5.9 billion) in defense budget over the next five years, aiming to meet NATO's defense spending targets.
Currently, Denmark boasts about 9,000 professional service members, and Colonel Kenneth Strom, who leads the conscription program, stated that the policy change is a response to political decisions and the evolving security landscape, enhancing the military's capabilities across all branches. Current volunteer Katrine expressed support for the initiative, highlighting the necessity for women to contribute equally to national defense efforts. "In the world situation we're in right now, it's necessary to have more conscripts, and I think that women should contribute to that equally, as men do. I think it's a positive change," she remarked.
