More Than 60% of Female Soldiers in Germany's Armed Forces Report Harassment or Abuse
More than 60% of female soldiers in Germany's armed forces, the Bundeswehr, reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment or abuse while on duty, according to a study of the force. The findings were reported by The Guardian.
The study was carried out by the Centre for Military History and Social Sciences in Potsdam, a research institute that examines the military's past and present. It is the first comprehensive study of its kind into the Bundeswehr. Germany's defence ministry said 45,000 active or former armed forces members were contacted for the survey, and 18% responded. Around 4,000 women were among those who replied.
Nearly 40% of the women said they had been addressed with suggestive comments and sexualised remarks. About 15% reported being harassed with mobile phone pictures taken of them against their will, which in some cases had been altered using artificial intelligence. Just over 8% said they had been physically attacked, and 2% said they had been victims of sexual violence.
The survey also covered male soldiers. Around 19% reported experiencing sexual misconduct, and non-binary and gay soldiers were disproportionately affected, according to the study.
Many of those affected did not come forward. About a third of those surveyed said they did not or would not report incidents because they lacked trust in what their superiors would do. The study also found that women in units with a higher proportion of other women were less often affected by harassment, a finding that German defence minister Boris Pistorius highlighted.
Pistorius described the harassment figures as "unacceptable". He said, "Zero tolerance applies to sexual harassment within the Bundeswehr." He also said the study would be repeated every year. Before the results were made public, he had set up HELP, a round-the-clock hotline for military personnel.
