Length of non-military national service to be reduced from 13 to 12 months

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The length of non-military national service is to be reduced by one month. The government plans to introduce an amendment to the law on non-military national service in such a way that the duration of the service would be reduced to 362 days from the present 395.
      Furthermore, more emphasis will be laid on rescue and civil defence operations in the basic training of the non-military national servicemen.
      According to the Minister of Labour Tarja Cronberg (Green League), the shortening of the non-military national service is above all a human rights issue. For example the United Nations Human Rights Committee and other international civil rights organisations have criticised Finland by saying that the length of the non-military national service is "punitive and discriminatory".
      The motion will be presented to the Finnish Parliament today, Friday. The amendment would come into effect from the beginning of 2008.
     
According to Cronberg, the restyled training would make it possible for the non-military national servicemen to take part, for example, in oil spill and rescue missions. Furthermore, the motion includes a suggestion for the possibility of a foreign assignment of up to two months in length.
      In the future, the possibility for undertaking non-military national service would remain also in exceptional conditions. In a standard situation an application for a non-military national service could be accepted without an explanation of personal conviction. In exceptional conditions, such as a national crisis or the threat of conflict, the explanation would be required.
     
The housing expenses of non-military national servicemen would be covered partly by the state. At present, the organising of accommodation has been the responsibility of service posts, which has led to dodging of compensations and has kept the number of available positions small.
      Covering some of the expenses would cost the government EUR two million per year.
     
Under the amendments to the law, under certain conditions the post of service may oblige a non-military national serviceman to provide proof of a drugs test. Taking the test would be voluntary, but refusal might lead to discontinuation of the service.
      The present law is void of statutes regarding testing for drugs.
      The length of service for those choosing not to go into the Finnish Defence Forces has been a considerable bone of contention, as military conscripts serve between six and 12 months. Over 80% of Finnish males serve in the military.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Poll shows overwhelming support for compulsory military service (9.5.2005)
  Conscription army - strategic necessity, or fixation of national identity? (5.4.2005)

Links:
  Military Service in Finland (Wikipedia)

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