Ministry of D

efense D

enmark

Joint EU-LAC Conference, Santiago - Chile 4-5 November 2002

Gender Issues Gender Issues in the Danish Armed Forcesin the Danish Armed Forces

Francis Francis Zachariae

Head of Division, Danish Ministry of Defence

Ministry of D

efense D

enmark

Gender Issues Gender Issues in the Danish Armed Forcesin the Danish Armed Forces

The history:The history:

• Since 1818 - Women in civilian jobsSince 1818 - Women in civilian jobs

• 1962 - An act is passed that makes it possible for women to 1962 - An act is passed that makes it possible for women to have a military jobhave a military job

• 1988 - It is now possible for women to have a job in combat 1988 - It is now possible for women to have a job in combat unitsunits

• 1992 - It is now possible for women to have a job as a 1992 - It is now possible for women to have a job as a fighter pilot fighter pilot

• 1998 - It is now possible for young women to serve on the 1998 - It is now possible for young women to serve on the same terms as those of conscript soldierssame terms as those of conscript soldiers

Ministry of D

efense D

enmark

The Integration of Women in the The Integration of Women in the Danish Armed ForcesDanish Armed Forces

Assimilation as opposed to integrationAssimilation as opposed to integration

Ministry of D

efense D

enmark

Four good reasons to increase the possibility of Four good reasons to increase the possibility of recruiting and integrating women in the Danish recruiting and integrating women in the Danish Armed Forces:Armed Forces:

•We want to contribute to maintaining a peaceful and We want to contribute to maintaining a peaceful and democratic societydemocratic society•We want the Armed Forces to be deeply rooted in the Danish We want the Armed Forces to be deeply rooted in the Danish societysociety•We want to have the possibility to recruit the best qualified We want to have the possibility to recruit the best qualified young people regardless of their sex, ethnic origin etc.young people regardless of their sex, ethnic origin etc.• We want to bring all possibilities into play that can qualify the We want to bring all possibilities into play that can qualify the tasks we performtasks we perform

Ministry of D

efense D

enmark

The Integration of Women in the The Integration of Women in the Danish Armed ForcesDanish Armed Forces

Different people will have equal Different people will have equal possibilities if you treat them individuallypossibilities if you treat them individually

Ministry of D

efense D

enmark

The distribution of women and men in the The distribution of women and men in the three services and in the medical corps:three services and in the medical corps:

Service Women Men

Army 432 12.594

Navy 189 3.593

Air Force 326 4.004

Medical corps 57 238

Total 1.004 20.429

Ministry of D

efense D

enmark

The distribution of women and men The distribution of women and men on rankson ranks

Ranks Women Men

Senior Officers

3

370

Officers

158

3.505

Non-commissioned officers

185

4.819

Regulars

658

11.735

Total 1.004 20.429

Ministry of D

efense D

enmark

The distribution of women and men among The distribution of women and men among personnel in international missions:personnel in international missions:

Unit Women Men

SFOR 16 310

KFOR 10 504

TF FOX 1 63

DANCON/ I SAF 2 32

Monitors 0 54

Total 29 963

Ministry of D

efense D

enmark

Way aheadWay ahead

• A long-term strategy for the future recruitment of A long-term strategy for the future recruitment of womenwomen

• A seminar for women in military positionsA seminar for women in military positions

• A study into the scope and nature of gender-linked A study into the scope and nature of gender-linked insulting behaviourinsulting behaviour

• Mainstreaming of Mainstreaming of • Uniforms

• The appraisal interview system

• Basic physical standards differentiated according to sexBasic physical standards differentiated according to sex