GENEVA — Swiss citizens have decisively rejected a landmark referendum that would have established gender-neutral mandatory national service, maintaining the country’s current system that primarily applies conscription requirements to men. The proposed “citizen service initiative” sought to transform Switzerland’s approach to civic duty by expanding compulsory service to include women and broadening the definition of national security to encompass environmental protection, food security, and elderly care.
The initiative’s proponents argued that universal service would strengthen social cohesion and enhance Switzerland’s resilience against emerging threats including natural disasters, cyberattacks, energy shortages, and potential spillover from Russia’s war in Ukraine. Campaign organizers emphasized that “everybody takes responsibility to work for a stronger Switzerland that’s able to stand up to crises” amid growing individualism and societal fragmentation.
However, the Swiss government and parliament mounted strong opposition, citing prohibitive costs and potential economic disruption. Official estimates projected the measure would nearly double both participant numbers (from approximately 35,000 to 70,000 annually) and associated costs (from 1 billion to 2 billion Swiss francs, equivalent to $1.25-2.5 billion).
The government also raised gender equality concerns, noting that mandatory service would “place an extra burden on many women, who already shoulder a large part of the unpaid work of raising and caring for children and relatives.” Rather than advancing equality, authorities argued the measure would disproportionately affect women given existing workplace and societal disparities.
Under Switzerland’s current system, young men must complete military service or join civil protection teams, with conscientious objectors permitted alternative service options. Women may volunteer for service but face no compulsory requirements. The defeated initiative would have also granted parliament authority to extend service obligations to foreign residents.
The referendum outcome provides significant insight into European attitudes toward mandatory national duty at a time of heightened security concerns across the continent.