Sexual harassment against women is not limited to Third World countries. Women in developed countries also face sexual violence, harassment and bullying, especially women in the armed forces.

Harassment against women has also been reported in the United States and the United Kingdom. Recently, a report by a subcommittee of the British parliament revealed that two-thirds of women in the armed forces have experienced bullying, sexual harassment and discrimination during their career and the authorities are failing to protect female recruits. Describing its inquiry into the treatment of women in the armed forces as one of the most vital in its history, the subcommittee said that 62 percent of the 4,106 veterans and current female personnel who gave testimony had either witnessed or received “unacceptable behaviour”. The report found shocking evidence involving gang rape, sex for promotion or advancement, or contests to “bag the women” on camps or on ships. Some women revealed how they were bullied for refusing sexual advances or had witnessed friends being attacked by groups of men but were too afraid to report it.

The problem of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment in the military is not new. Still, there has been an increase in attention to the issue in recent years, resulting in more tremendous efforts to tackle it, particularly in the US military. In 2011, it was estimated that a female soldier serving in Iraq was more likely to be attacked by a fellow soldier than killed by enemy fire. Calling the act of military sexual assaults in the United States of America, a report stated that it was a poison in the system. These reports revealed that nearly “one in four” US servicewomen reported being sexually assaulted in the military. It is an epidemic. “Why has it been so difficult to change the culture?” asked the report.

In a survey commissioned by the British Army in the UK, almost 40 percent of servicewomen said they had received unwanted comments of a sexual nature in the past year.

“The survey based on 7,000 soldiers, found that 13 percent of women had had a particularly upsetting experience, 3 percent of those who were very upset made a formal written complaint. Nearly half did not make a formal complaint because they were concerned about the consequences of being labelled a troublemaker and its effect on their careers.”

Besides the above survey, new research published in the Military Health Journal suggests that women in the UK military suffer emotional bullying, sexual assaults and physical harassment. “Those most likely to have suffered bad treatment were most likely to be younger, have held the rank of officer, or had a combat support role.” Of the 750 women veterans included in the study, some 22.5 percent said they had been sexually harassed, while 5.1 percent said they were sexually assaulted. Around 22.7 percent of the women said they had endured emotional bullying during their time in the armed forces, and 3.3 percent said they had been physically assaulted.

The study found that approximately 16,500 women currently serve in the UK military, making up around 11 percent of personnel. These servicewomen are in pain or fatigued due to the mental distress causes that were “significantly” linked to sexual harassment. Meanwhile, those who dealt with emotional bullying were more likely to experience anxiety, depression, low social support and loneliness issues. The report says that military women who held a rank as an officer were at greater risk of sexual harassment as well as emotional bullying. Even women holding high power positions may be at risk of victimisation from their superiors.

The British parliament and other groups, in their investigative reports, have expressed grave concern over these incidents and stressed upon the relevant authorities to ensure the safety of servicewomen in the forces. The team of British-based scientists called for military women to be urgently provided with more support.

Another Ministry of Defence (MOD) report said: “It cannot be ruled out that their own peers may perpetuate victimisation of women holding higher ranks. Many servicewomen do not report adverse service experiences due to fear of the consequences of doing so and may continue to suffer from increased mental health distress during and after military service.”

“It is essential to consider whether existing support is adequate to support the mental health needs of women who experienced military adversity. It is vital to consider whether organisational and leadership changes can be made to better protect women serving in the armed forces.”

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence said: “We are committed to improving the experience for women in the armed forces in every area of their lives and do not tolerate abuse, bullying, harassment or discrimination.”

“We have taken a range of steps to improve the experience of women in our armed forces, as we continue to do for all serving personnel. All allegations are taken very seriously, with unlawful behaviour investigated by the relevant police service as necessary.”

Another report issued by the Service Complaints Ombudsman (SCO) for the UK Armed Forces revealed that a study provides evidence of a high prevalence of military adversity among UK women and highlights meaningful relationships with socio-demographic factors and mental health. Female and BAME (Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic) personnel are overrepresented in the service complaints system. 43 percent of complaints made by female personnel concerned bullying, harassment or discrimination, while this only accounted for 20 percent of complaints made by male personnel.

The British Army’s own harassment survey revealed that just over one in ten (11 percent) of personnel reported being subject to bullying, discrimination, or harassment in the 12 months. The survey revealed that this figure had increased in 2020, when 12 percent reported that they had been subject to bullying, harassment, or discrimination in the previous 12 months.

When you look at the figures for gender, the statistics are even starker, with 20 percent of female respondents reported having been the subject of bullying, harassment or discrimination.

The figures on sexual assaults were shocking in the report of SCO. “Around 12 percent of respondents who reported problematic behaviours, the victim of intentional sexual touching; 7 percent had been the subject of an attempted sexual assault; 5 percent were victims of serious sexual assault, and 2 percent reported being the victim of rape. Most of these incidents (57 percent) appeared to have taken place at the workplace or in the training unit.”

Sexual violence remains prevalent in the United Kingdom. The Armed Forces are no exception, but particular and compelling challenges arise when addressing sexual violence in that context. The statistics do not include offences involving the Armed Forces that are dealt with within the civilian system, which means the scale of sexual offenses is likely to be significantly higher than these statistics indicate.

The writer is a correspondent for Geo News, daily Jang and The News in London