Young people demand co-determination in the modernisation of military service

"Young people want to be heard. They need to be involved in such an important topic," emphasised DBJR Chairwoman Daniela Broda in an interview with ARD. In the programme "Phoenix der Tag" , she also emphasised: "We have to get away from the image that young people have to 'give something back'. Youth is an independent phase of life that also goes hand in hand with a right to self-determination."

The Rheinische Post assessed the impact of the draft law on young people: "Many of the official voices are sceptical or even hostile. The German Federal Youth Council (DBJR), for example, warns against mandatory elements in the Military Service Act. A DBJR position paper states that the planned law would be a "far-reaching intervention in young people's life planning and freedom rights without active participation" in the debate.

In its comprehensive statement on the draft law, the Bundesjugendring calls for

• the cancellation of the mandatory registration and mustering regulations (Sections 15a, 17, 2a WPflG-E),
• the deletion of the planned authorisation to issue ordinances for conscription in peacetime (§ 2a WPflG-E) and the exclusive binding of compulsory military service to the exceptional cases provided for in the constitution,
• the avoidance of any legal construction that creates de facto pressure to decide in favour of military service - especially against socially disadvantaged groups (Section 58c SG-E),
• the binding, early and permanent involvement of young people in all political projects that directly affect the realities of their lives;
• the equal promotion of voluntary civic engagement under fair conditions - without structurally favouring military service. Genuine voluntarism presupposes that all options can be freely chosen without financial disadvantages and social hurdles;
• the initiation of a broad socio-political debate on compulsory military service, peace and security, in which young people are taken seriously and listened to as equal stakeholders.

In addition to these substantive demands, the Bundesjugendring has clear expectations of the further parliamentary process: Young people must be bindingly involved in the upcoming deliberations in the Bundestag and in the committees and their perspectives must be seriously taken into account.

The Bundesjugendring will continue to resolutely introduce these demands into the political debates. Such a far-reaching decision must not be made over the heads of those who are directly affected. Young people expect an open social discussion in which young people are involved as experts in their own lives.

For press enquiries at short notice: grundlagen@dbjr.de