The New Conservative Party (JKP), which is not represented in the Saeima, is calling on the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to postpone the introduction of mandatory conscription for women into the State Defence Service (VAD) until several key preconditions are met to ensure young people’s health and the quality of service, party representatives say.
JKP has sent an official letter to Defence Minister Andris Sprūds (P), expressing conceptual support for comprehensive national defence while urging the ministry not to rush the introduction of mandatory VAD for women before three essential preconditions are fulfilled to safeguard young people’s health and service quality.
According to JKP, the National Armed Forces (NAF) should establish physical fitness requirements that are adapted to specific functions and positions rather than based on gender, thereby avoiding situations in which individuals are assigned to roles for which they are not physically prepared.
The party also points out the need for reform of physical fitness training within the education system. In cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science, it should be ensured that Latvian young people, upon completing secondary education, are among the physically strongest in the world. In JKP’s view, this would reduce the risk of injuries and expand service opportunities for both genders.
JKP further stresses that the modernisation of individual and collective equipment in the NAF must continue,
introducing new, lighter and more ergonomic solutions that make service easier and broaden access to various positions without compromising unit combat capability.
In the party’s view, changes should not be initiated before the current objective is achieved — namely, the high-quality conscription of 4,000 people per year by 2028. Rushing the expansion of the process could lead to hasty and substandard solutions.
JKP sees potential in the future to follow the example of the Nordic countries and Israel, but emphasises that this must be done gradually and on a sound basis, as neither society nor the defence sector is currently ready for it. According to the party, strengthening national defence should begin with improving young people’s health and ensuring modern equipment.
The political force calls on the Ministry of Defence to carry out the necessary preparatory work
so that the strengthening of national defence proceeds while also safeguarding citizens’ health and maintaining professional standards in service.
As previously reported by BNN, Defence Minister Andris Sprūds has acknowledged that mandatory conscription of women into the State Defence Service is a relevant issue and has promised that the Ministry of Defence will take further steps this year to move towards implementing the initiative from 2028.
BNN has also reported that former Commander of the National Armed Forces Leonīds Kalniņš has proposed considering the introduction of mandatory conscription for women into the State Defence Service.
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