Sexual harassment is more widespread in the German Armed Forces than previously known, with female soldiers affected most frequently. This is the conclusion of a new study examining previously unreported cases, published on Wednesday by the Bundeswehr Centre for Military History and Social Sciences.
According to the findings, 75 per cent of female soldiers and 35 per cent of male soldiers have experienced sexual harassment at least once during their military service. Federal Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) said he was shocked by the findings and announced a policy of "zero tolerance".
According to the study, verbal harassment is the most common form, including sexually suggestive remarks and comments. A total of 72 per cent of female soldiers and 31 per cent of male soldiers said they had experienced this type of harassment at least once during their military service.
For the study, the Bundeswehr research institution contacted around 45,000 soldiers of all ranks. Approximately 18 per cent responded by the end of August, resulting in the evaluation of more than 8,100 questionnaires. The research was supplemented by 60 individual and group interviews. According to the researchers, the survey data is representative.
In the 12 months preceding the survey, 38 per cent of female soldiers and 16 per cent of male soldiers experienced verbal sexual harassment. Visual harassment, including the showing or sending of pornographic images, was reported by seven per cent of female soldiers and five per cent of male soldiers.
Physical harassment affected nine per cent of female soldiers and three per cent of male soldiers during the same 12-month period. Two per cent of both female and male soldiers said they had experienced sexual violence. According to the study, younger women in lower military ranks and non-heterosexual men are particularly affected. At least 96 per cent of perpetrators are men, meaning that they account for almost all cases.
Only a small proportion of incidents are reported. Around one in five cases of verbal harassment and one in six cases of visual harassment are reported. Female and male soldiers report physical harassment and sexual violence at similarly low rates.
The most frequently cited reason for not reporting incidents was that those affected did not want to attract attention or make a fuss. The second most common reason was a lack of trust in the reporting system, military structures and the military environment.
Defence Minister Pistorius described the findings as "unacceptable" on Wednesday following a meeting of the Bundestag's Defence Committee. He stressed that there was "zero tolerance for sexual misconduct in the Bundeswehr". Pistorius announced that the government would take "decisive" action and presented a corresponding action plan containing 34 individual measures.
These include the counselling service "Help", which was established at the beginning of November. Pistorius emphasised that the service operates "outside the military chain of command", allowing those affected to report incidents "confidentially". A specialised investigative unit is also to be established, while greater awareness of the issue is to be incorporated into military training and professional development.
Henning Otte (CDU), the Bundestag's Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces, described the figures in the study as "alarmingly high". They must serve as "an unmistakable wake-up call and a mandate" for military leadership and all superiors, he told the Rheinische Post. Otte welcomed the catalogue of measures presented by the Defence Ministry, but stressed that it must now be implemented "consistently".
The study clearly demonstrates that "sexual misconduct is part of everyday life in the Bundeswehr", said Thomas Röwekamp (CDU), chairman of the Bundestag's Defence Committee, speaking to the Rheinische Post. He said it was particularly alarming that there was so little trust in the reporting and disciplinary systems. "A clear stance and vigilance are required at all levels of leadership."
Meanwhile, the Greens are calling for an external reporting body to handle cases of sexual misconduct within the Bundeswehr. Such a body is currently missing, said Sara Nanni, the Greens' defence policy spokesperson, in an interview with ZDF. She announced that the Bundestag would continue to apply pressure to ensure that "such an external reporting body will be part of the response to the cases of recent months".
The Left Party also joined the calls for an external reporting body. Such a body was "long overdue", said MP Zada Salihović. She added that independent investigative bodies outside the Defence Ministry were also needed.
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