Norway votes to extend conscription to women

[Huntsman]

Norway's parliament voted overwhelmingly on Friday to conscript women into its armed forces, becoming the first European and first NATO country to make military service compulsory for both genders.
"Rights and duties should be the same for all," said Labour lawmaker Laila Gustavsen, a supporter of the bill.
"The armed forces need access to the best resources, regardless of gender, and right now mostly men are recruited."
Norway has been at the forefront in the fight for gender equality, introducing measures such as requiring all public limited companies to fill at least 40 percent of their board seats with women. On Wednesday the country celebrated a century since Norwegian women won the right to vote.
Women make up half of the current government, and opposition leader Erna Solberg is expected to become Norway's second female prime minister in elections later this year, according to opinion polls which indicate her Conservative Party and its allies will win a parliamentary majority.
"This is historic. For me it is fantastic to make history, for the armed forces and for women," Gustavsen said.
NATO member Norway has reduced its armed forces since the end of the Cold War and spends heavily on technology to keep a small but advanced military.
Women already serve in the military, but do so of their own volition. They make up a tenth of the armed forces, according to the ministry of defence.
The change is not expected to force women to serve against their will but should help improve the gender balance.
All young people can be conscripted in theory, but since the end of the Cold War the Norwegian armed forces have become more selective in choosing conscripts as their needs have changed.
Those who do not want to serve can often find a reason, such as university studies, to avoid the draft.
"In theory, it is possible (women would have to serve against their will), just as it can happen to men," Gustavsen said.
"But in practice, the armed forces recruit the most motivated young people."

Source: http://www.worldbulletin.net/?aType=haber&ArticleID=111188

[Omar Aly]

You seriously need women to protect you, no offensive but me no gusta

[Hevar.]

Yeah right ! Their postion is to stay inside the kitchen and protect it inside the militray base ? =)

[Jubin]

Yeah right ! Their postion is to stay inside the kitchen and protect it inside the militray base ? =)

[ClazzyJogel]

This is why I hate my country.

[Mikal]

It was only about being the first to do something. :roll:

[eymas]

Hmm, Why do I think that the women will seduce the enemy while the men go beat them up?
Tactics ^^

[KhornateMonkey]

I fail to see what's wrong with this

[Taylor_P]

I fail to see what's wrong with this

Well now you force women to do something they most likely dont want to.. God that cant end well. My 2 cents just let women join the armed forces just like everyone else, not stopping them just preventing the common rift raft from weakling your armed forces.

[[WS]Jacob]

Well now you force women to do something they most likely dont want to.. God that cant end well.

What are you on about? No one forces these women to go on the frontline, it is their choice.

[KhornateMonkey]

Well now you force women to do something they most likely dont want to.. God that cant end well. My 2 cents just let women join the armed forces just like everyone else, not stopping them just preventing the common rift raft from weakling your armed forces.

You also force males to do something they most likely don't want to do, so your point is?

[Huntsman]

Well now you force women to do something they most likely dont want to..

Bullshit. They want equality - they get equality.

[ElMartu]

Bullshit. They want equality - they get equality.

exactly

[Lustigkurre]

Good idea.
Great example to all of those mentally retarded neanderthal-countries who thinks women just belongs in the kitchen

[Reece]

What are you on about? No one forces these women to go on the frontline, it is their choice.

Choice? Women have been able to choose in Norway for years, this is about conscription of females; mandatory military service.

Also title was misleading, changed. Far from being the first country who conscripts females.