Some news about women conscription

Ulla from Finland

BBC – July 1, 2025 – Danish women to face conscription by lottery

Under new rules passed by Denmark’s parliament, women are to join teenage males in a lottery system that could require them to undertake a period of conscription.

The change was brought in as Nato countries boost defence spending  amid heightened security concerns in Europe.

Up to now, women were allowed to participate in military service when they turned 18, but on a voluntary basis.

From Tuesday, both men and women turning 18 will be required to register to be assessed for potential military service. Volunteers will be recruited first, with the remaining numbers made up through the lottery system.

The change will also see the period of conscription for teenagers rise from four months to 11 months. …

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1e0094n5d3o

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DW – June 4, 2025 –  Which countries require military service for women?

Ulla has picked out NATO countries from the article

Norway -  has had universal conscription since January 2015 

Sweden -  conscription was abolished in 2010 and then reactivated in January 2018 to include both men and women aged 18 and over. The duration of military service is between six and 15 months. Around 20% of all military personnel are female.

The Netherlands - conscription also applies to women, although compulsory military service as a whole has been suspended since 1997.

(Comment/Ulla from NL Times 21.3.2025: The Netherlands still formally has compulsory military service, but since 1997, no young people have been called up. …The Ministry of Defense wants to recruit many more people for the Dutch Armed Forces due to the escalating tensions in the world. Defense has always said it wants to inclrea the army to 100,000 people strong. But sources told NOS that the Ministry is aiming for 200,000 soldiers and reservists. At those numbers, a return to military conscription is becoming increasingly conceivable, defense experts told the broadcaster.)

In most countries, military service for women remains voluntary. In the United States, where around 200,000 female soldiers comprise around 14% of the country’s military personnel, women have been serving in combat units since 1993. Since then, the country has opened up all military pursuits to women, including deployment in ground forces and submarines.

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OTHER NATO COUNTRIES – different sources

Finland -  military conscription is compulsory for men, while women can volunteer for military service. While there is no conscription for women, those who volunteer undergo the same training and serve in the same roles as their male counterparts. In 2025, 1,448 women volunteered for military service

Germany  – DW 12.4.2025 – Germany: No return to compulsory military service)  

Friedrich Merz (now Bundeskansler): ”We will strengthen military service in Germany, following the Swedish model — at first on a voluntary basis.”

Following the Swedish model would mean sending a questionnaire to all 18-year-olds in a given year. Answering the questionnaire is mandatory for men and voluntary for women and includes questions about fitness and a willingness to serve in the military. The answers will help determine who will be invited to undergo a military physical examination.

UK – Daily Express – June 27, 2025 - Conscription age for women in UK if Iran or Russia started WW3

With rising global tensions, Brits could be called up to help a war effort if conflict breaks out. 

In the event of World War 3, women could be called up to join the UK’s army. With multiple ongoing conflicts around the world, it could be possible another world war breaks out.

Estonia -military service is compulsory for men, but women can also voluntarily participate in conscript service.

Latvia - currently does not conscript women, but there is an ongoing debate about potentially including women in the draft system from 2028. Currently, only men aged 18-27 are subject to mandatory conscription in the National Defence Service, while women are eligible for voluntary military service. Some Latvian officials, including the defense minister, have expressed support for extending conscription to women, but public opinion and logistical considerations remain key factors in the decision-making process. 

Lithuania -  currently, conscription for men only, but women can volunteer for military service. While there’s been discussion about extending conscription to women, no such plans are currently in place. The focus is on expanding the number of men conscripted and increasing the length of service for them.

Italy - Currently, Italy does not conscript women. While Italian law technically includes women in the conscription framework, in practice, military service is only compulsory for men. The Italian armed forces are composed entirely of volunteers, both male and female, and conscription has been suspended since 2005. 

Globavia website: Italy is the last country among NATO members to open its doors to women’s military service, however, introducing an important innovation that makes our armed forces in step with the times: the equalization of women and men. … According to data published in March by the Chamber of Deputies, there are nearly 18,000 female military personnel in our country, including 1,924 Officers, 2,663 Non-Commissioned Officers, 12,694 Graduate and Troop Military, and 664 Female Cadets of military academies and schools.

Euractive 22.5.2024 - Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini’s League party has submitted a bill to the Chamber of Deputies proposing a mandatory six-month period of military or civilian service for all young people aged between 18 and 26, while the far-right party’s centre-right allies, including Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, oppose the measure. …