FEMALE SOLDIERS TARGETED BY SEXUAL HARASSMENT

BERLIN, NOVEMBER 11 /SRNA/ – The German Armed Forces /Bundeswehr/ are facing a problem of sexual harassment, particularly affecting female soldiers, according to the findings of a survey published by the German Ministry of Defence.

The data showed that 38 per cent of female soldiers had experienced verbal sexual harassment in the past 12 months. Among male soldiers, the figure stood at 16 per cent.

Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said that women, younger soldiers and non-heterosexual service members were the groups most affected by sexual harassment.

He outlined a plan to address the problem, stating that a zero-tolerance policy applies to sexual harassment within the Bundeswehr.

Around seven per cent of female soldiers said that photographs of them had been taken without their consent or manipulated using artificial intelligence. Another nine per cent reported physical sexual assault, while two per cent said they had been victims of sexual violence.

Among male soldiers, two per cent reported having been victims of sexual violence in the Bundeswehr.

Depending on the type of harassment, between 36 and 61 per cent of those affected said they had not reported the incidents, citing fear of the consequences. Meanwhile, between 44 and 59 per cent said they doubted that reporting the incidents would lead to any concrete results.

The findings of the study, which Pistorius described as “the first of its kind”, were based on 8,000 completed questionnaires. This represents four per cent of the Bundeswehr's total personnel of 186,200 soldiers.

The German Government is seeking to increase the number of active military personnel to 260,000, alongside 200,000 reservists, which would require attracting both men and women to the armed forces.