Army chief says transsexuals should be able to join Swiss military
Transgender people should be allowed in the Swiss army if they meet the conditions of service, says outgoing army chief Philippe Rebord. This comes after a man was turned down for being transgender.
This content was published on
1 minute
Keystone-SDA/jc
Rebord, who steps down at the end of the year, said in an interview with 20 MinutenExternal link newspaper on Friday that he wants army guidelines on the issue revised. The army’s medical guidelines currently provide that being transgender is a reason to declare people unfit for service.
The debate has been sparked by the case of a 21-year-old transgender man who wants to do military service but was refused. He told the 24 Heures newspaperExternal link this was despite good medical and sports results. All able-bodied Swiss men are called up to do military service.
Asked about the case, army spokesperson Delphine Allemand told 24 Heures that under current criteria transgender people are considered unfit for military service because they generally “need medical and sometimes psychological support which cannot be guaranteed by the army – especially during missions, when the health of the individual in question could be put at risk”.
The young man was also discouraged from insisting, because he was told he might become the victim of discriminatory behaviour by other serving members of the army. He has nevertheless appealed his case.
More
More
Swiss army considering admitting transgender recruits
This content was published on
While current rules make transgender people ineligible for military service, the army is mulling over the possibility of lifting restrictions,
Popularity of sustainable investment waning in Switzerland
This content was published on
Green investments are slowing down in Switzerland, as for the first time in years, more money flows into traditional funds than into sustainable ones.
Swiss Social Democrats get 1,000 new members after Trump victory
This content was published on
In the space of three days, the Social Democratic party says it has welcomed around 1,000 new members, following Donald Trump's victory.
Social media not a major source of stress for Swiss youth
This content was published on
Young people in Switzerland feel less stressed by social media than might be expected, according to a new study by Pro Juventute.
Switzerland should get closer to NATO after Trump victory: Centre Party president
This content was published on
Gerhard Pfister wants closer ties with NATO, given president-elect Donald Trump's pronouncements, which could have a negative impact on Swiss security.
Demonstrators rally in support of Swiss steelworks Gerlafingen
This content was published on
Around 1,000 people demonstrated in front of the Stahl Gerlafingen steel plant on Saturday to demand the preservation of the site.
Basel autumn fair attracted over 1 million visitors
This content was published on
The Basel autumn fair, or Herbstmesse, saw record attendance, with more than a million visitors, city authorities said on Saturday.
Swiss Federal Railways want direct trains between Zurich and Rome
This content was published on
In addition to the new connections to Italy announced on Friday, the Swiss Federal Railways would like to see a direct link between Zurich and Rome.
Swiss village Brienz to be evacuated due to rockslide risk
This content was published on
Local authorities announced that up to 1.2 million cubic metres of rock could move towards the mountain village of Brienz. The municipality is preparing a preventive evacuation.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Highest Swiss court says sexual orientation not protected under equality law
This content was published on
The Swiss Federal Court ruled today that the law on equality does not apply to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Government seeks to curb interest in civilian service
This content was published on
The Swiss government aims to curb departures from the military to pursue civilian service given a surge in civilian service admissions.
Changing gender should be made easier, says government
This content was published on
The government has proposed making it easier for Swiss residents to change their gender in official records. A third gender option is not offered.
This content was published on
Last year, a total of 107 military weapons – assault rifles and pistols – were reported lost, the Swiss defence ministry said on Tuesday.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.