Fact Check: Norway introduced military conscription for both sexes in 2013.

Fact Check: "Norway introduced military conscription for both sexes in 2013."

What We Know

In June 2013, Norway's Parliament voted overwhelmingly to introduce military conscription for women, making it the first European and NATO country to implement such a policy. Prior to this legislation, women could serve in the military voluntarily, and they comprised about 10% of the armed forces at that time (A Vote to Draft Women in Norway). The law officially took effect in 2015, which mandated that both men and women are subject to conscription, thereby establishing gender-neutral military service (Norway | Facts, Points of Interest, Geography, & History).

Analysis

The claim that Norway introduced military conscription for both sexes in 2013 is accurate, as the legislative action occurred in that year. However, it is important to note that the actual implementation of this conscription did not take place until 2015. This distinction is crucial for understanding the timeline of events. The sources cited, particularly the New York Times article, provide a reliable account of the parliamentary decision and its implications for gender equality in military service (A Vote to Draft Women in Norway).

Furthermore, the credibility of the sources is strong, as they include reputable outlets such as The New York Times and academic references from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (Statement by Norway on Gender Equality in the Military). The information is corroborated by multiple sources, including a detailed overview from Britannica (Norway | Facts, Points of Interest, Geography, & History) and commentary from the Royal United Services Institute (Conscripting Change: Norway's Case for Neutrality).

While some sources, like the article from Security Women, discuss the broader implications of gender-neutral conscription, they confirm the initial claim regarding the 2013 decision (A Look at Norway's Approach to Gender-Neutral Conscription).

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that Norway introduced military conscription for both sexes in 2013 is true, as the parliamentary vote took place in that year. Although the implementation of the policy occurred later in 2015, the legislative action itself marked a significant step towards gender equality in military service.