Chief of Staff General Steve Thull affirmed that Luxembourg's army offers equal opportunities to both men and women, with no role reserved exclusively for one gender.
During the presentation of the second national action plan for the implementation of UN Resolution 1325, Chief of Staff General Steve Thull stated that "there is no place in the army reserved for a man."
"The army offers many opportunities. We have virtually every job that one can find out there. And every job that one can bring to us is open to both women and men," he added.
Currently, women make up ten percent of the army's personnel, a slightly lower proportion than in the past, according to the General. Since Russia’s aggressive war on Ukraine, however, fewer women have been enlisting as soldiers, as the war has moved closer.
"When women enlist, they must also be able to go on any mission. That is why all the tests are designed so that they have the capabilities to meet the demands of what is required," Thull explained.
In practical terms, this means that women must carry the same heavy backpacks as men. The Command Group, the highest decision-making body of the Luxembourg Army, currently has no women. Thull stressed that this is a question of time, not principle, explaining that Luxembourg’s army only opened to women at a later stage, and there hasn’t been enough time for women to rise through the ranks to that level.
Defence Minister Yuriko Backes stressed the need to highlight women’s presence in the army, not just focusing on men in communications. She pointed out that women have their place in the military, with a dedicated women's committee addressing their needs, including uniforms tailored for women.
Luxembourg does not set a specific target for recruiting more women, unlike other countries. However, other aspects of the action plan, such as raising awareness about dealing with women from or in conflict zones where rape has been used as a weapon of war, are directed at men as well.
