Foto: BB.LV / Бундесвер
Sexual harassment in the Bundeswehr is more widespread than previously known, with women soldiers being the most affected. This conclusion was reached by the authors of a study published on Wednesday, November 11, by the Center for Military History and Social Sciences of the Bundeswehr. According to the results, 75 percent of women and 35 percent of men have encountered sexual harassment during their service. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that he is shocked by this data and announced a policy of "zero tolerance." Most often, this involves inappropriate remarks and comments with sexual undertones. Seventy-two percent of women and 31 percent of men reported encountering such behavior during their service. **Inappropriate Comments and Harassment** In the 12 months preceding the survey, 38 percent of women and 16 percent of men experienced verbal manifestations of sexualized violence. Seven percent of women and five percent of men reported unwanted visual actions, particularly the demonstration or sending of pornographic images. Physical harassment was experienced by nine percent of women and three percent of men during the same period. Two percent of service members of both genders encountered sexualized violence. **Young Women - The Most Frequent Victims** Young women in lower military ranks, as well as men who do not identify as heterosexual, are particularly often victims. At least 96 percent of the alleged perpetrators are men. Such cases are rarely reported. Only about one in five reports of verbal manifestations of sexualized violence and one in six reports of visual manifestations reach the relevant authorities. The same pattern is observed in cases of physical harassment and sexual violence. Victims most often explain their reluctance to file complaints by stating that they do not want to attract attention. The second most common reason is a lack of trust in the complaint system, military structures, and the soldier environment. **Pistorius Presented a 34-Point Plan** The results of the study are "unacceptable," said German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius after a meeting of the Bundestag Defense Committee on November 11. According to him, there must be "zero tolerance for sexualized violations" in the Bundeswehr. Pistorius announced decisive measures and presented a 34-point action plan. This plan includes the Help advisory service created in early November. It operates "outside the military hierarchy," emphasized Pistorius. This allows victims to approach it "confidentially." Additionally, a special investigative group is planned to be created, and more attention will be paid to this issue during the training and qualification of military personnel. **"A Wake-Up Call"** The Bundestag Commissioner for Soldiers of the Bundeswehr, Henning Otte, described the study's results as "alarmingly high." According to him, they should serve as "an unequivocal wake-up call and call to action" for leadership and all commanders. In an interview with the Rheinische Post, Otte welcomed the list of measures from the Ministry of Defense and emphasized that they now need to be implemented consistently. Chairman of the Bundestag Defense Committee Thomas Röwekamp told the Rheinische Post that the study clearly shows: "sexualized offenses have become commonplace in the Bundeswehr." He particularly noted the extremely low level of trust in the complaint and sanction system. "Clear positions and vigilance are needed at all levels of command," he emphasized, as quoted by "Deutsche Welle."
