The government on Thursday submitted to Parliament a proposal for amending the Conscription Act and the Act on Voluntary Military Service for Women, said the Ministry of Defence in a press release.
The amendments would apply to Åland residents and to persons whose gender has been legally recognised.
The government proposed to the amend the legislation with regard to persons whose gender has been legally recognised.
The amendment would allow persons who have been legally recognised as being female to continue their military service and to remain in the reserve.
Correspondingly, the amendment would allow persons who are legally recognised as being male during their voluntary military service for women to immediately transfer to conscript service.
The aim is to improve gender equality and to clarify the legal situation of persons whose gender has been legally recognised by enabling them to continue their military service and to remain in the reserve.
The purpose of the amendments is to harmonise legislation to meet the requirements of other legislation to treat everyone according to their gender identity.
The government also proposed that men who have the right of domicile in Åland can apply to have their exemption from military service annulled.
Every year around 1-5 men who have the right of domicile in Åland volunteer for military service, although they are exempt from military service.
The aim is to clarify the legal situation of men who have the right of domicile in Åland and who wish to volunteer for military service under the Conscription Act.
The proposed amendments are expected to enter into force in autumn 2025.
- Finland
- Gender Equality
- Military service
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
