Switzerland Debates Expanding National Service to Include Women, Sparking Equality Debate
A contentious initiative in Switzerland proposes extending mandatory service – currently limited to men – to all citizens, igniting a national conversation about gender equality, societal burdens, and the evolving definition of national duty. The vote, scheduled for November 30, 2025, promises a pivotal moment for the Alpine nation.
The “Service Citoyen” initiative aims to transform the current conscription system into a general service obligation, encompassing military service, civil defense, or recognized community service. Proponents argue this is a crucial step toward dismantling outdated gender roles and ensuring a more equitable distribution of responsibility.
“Today, the state assigns young women and young men different roles in life. This cements gender stereotypes,” stated Corina Gredig, a National Councilor with the Green Liberal Party (GLP) and a key advocate for the initiative. “It’s about breaking outdated role models where they arise. This is also on the threshold of adult life.” The initiative envisions a broader understanding of security, extending beyond traditional defense to include areas like climate protection, food security, and care services.
The core of the proposal stipulates that all Swiss citizens would be required to contribute to the public good, with those opting out facing a tax similar to the current system for men avoiding conscription. This shift, supporters believe, would foster a stronger sense of collective responsibility and promote modern societal values.
However, the initiative faces strong opposition, with critics arguing it would disproportionately burden women, who already shoulder a greater share of unpaid labor. Opponents contend that mandating service for women without addressing existing inequalities is fundamentally unfair.
“The unpaid work, the volunteer work that women do, they do this primarily at home – when caring for children, relatives, when cleaning,” explained Tamara Funiciello, a National Councilor with the Social Democratic Party (SP). “This isn’t work that someone else can simply take on if they have to do service.” Funiciello emphasized that obligating women to also serve the community would exacerbate existing gender disparities.
Data from the Federal Statistical Office supports this concern, revealing that in 2024, women across all age groups dedicated an average of 61% of their working time to unpaid work, compared to 42% for men. Funiciello argued that compulsory service for women should only be considered once these inequalities are eliminated. “You cannot burden women with more responsibilities but not give them equal opportunities. Women still earn less than men for the same work and do significantly more unpaid work.”
The debate highlights a fundamental tension: is this initiative a progressive step towards modern role models, or an additional weight on a gender already carrying a disproportionate share of societal responsibilities? As Switzerland approaches the November vote, the nation is grappling with complex questions about equality, duty, and the future of its national identity.
[Image of Corina Gredig, GLP parliamentary group president, at the delegate meeting of the Swiss Green Liberal Party on October 19, 2024 in Rüschlikon. KEYSTONE/Christian Beutler]
[Image of Tamara Funiciello (SP) at the summer session of the Federal Council on June 3, 2025 in the National Council in Bern. KEYSTONE/Til Buergy]
[Image from SRF providing news and background information on the federal votes on November 30, 2025.]
The outcome of the vote will undoubtedly shape Switzerland’s social landscape for years to come, forcing a reckoning with long-held assumptions about gender roles and national service.
