Compulsory military service for women? Austria's new debate is causing a stir!

Compulsory military service for women? Austria's new debate is causing a stir!

The discussion about the possible introduction of compulsory military service for women has gained momentum in Austria. Erich Cibulka, President of the Austrian Officers' Society, has clearly spoken out in favor of such a regulation. This is happening in a context where Denmark, as the second EU country, has already introduced compulsory military service for women; From 2026, young Danish women will have to do military service. Compulsory military service for women is also a reality in Sweden and Norway. Cibulka argues that the Austrian army needs to become more flexible and select the most fit people regardless of gender in order to increase military readiness 5min.at reported.

In contrast to Cibulka's position is Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner (ÖVP), who speaks out against compulsory military service for women. She points to existing inequalities in many areas of life and emphasizes the need to address them first. Currently, women in Austria have been able to do voluntary basic military service since April 2023; By April 2025, 489 women have taken advantage of this opportunity, while around 16,000 men do their basic military service every year.

Current figures and developments in the armed forces

The integration of women in the armed forces has developed steadily since 1998. There are currently 810 active female soldiers in service, which represents only 4.6%, compared to a target of 15%. The discussion about a possible extension of basic military service from six to eight months is also ongoing. A commission of experts is examining this measure, which is supported by militia commissioner Erwin Hameseder due to the changed security policy situation. Cibulka also proposes an alternative model of an “Austria Year” that would allow young adults to choose between military service and community service. The formation of community service positions in social areas such as rescue, geriatric care and assistance for the disabled represents an important social role, even though 11,798 men are currently doing community service.

Compulsory military service for women is not only a hotly debated topic in Austria. In Germany, Inspector General Carsten Breuer also suggests extending compulsory military service to women. The background for this proposal is the shortage of skilled workers in the Bundeswehr, which is forcing the federal government to find new ways to strengthen the armed forces. A new military service model has already been presented by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, but so far only includes a basic military service of six months with the possibility of a voluntary extension of 17 months. The aim is to increase the Bundeswehr's operational readiness in the event of a defense, not least in view of the need for 100,000 reservists rnd.de determines.

Conscription worldwide: A look beyond borders

The debate about compulsory military service for women is not just limited to Austria and Germany. It is already being practiced in several countries. In Israel, men must do three years of military service and women must do two years of military service, although a current law now includes ultra-Orthodox Jews. Compulsory service for men and women has also been stipulated by law in Ivory Coast since 2002, although this is not enforced in practice. Eritrea requires men and women to serve for 16 months, Cuba requires two years of military service from both sexes, while in North Korea women have to serve five years and men have to do ten years of military service. Chad has a one-year commitment for women. Norway has had gender-neutral conscription since 2015, and Sweden has also required everyone between the ages of 16 and 70 to serve since 2017. In Germany, compulsory military service has been suspended since 2011 but is anchored in the Basic Law, meaning that extending it to women requires a change to the Basic Law, which requires a two-thirds majority in the Bundestag and Bundesrat.