Sexual misconduct in the Canadian Forces

Statistics Canada has produced the results of its survey titled: Sexual Misconduct in the Canadian Forces 2018 (A total of 36,000 CAF members participated in the survey.) A total of 1.6% of Regular Force members reported having been victims of sexual assault in the military work place or outside the workplace involving military members. A similar survey conducted in 2016 by Statistics Canada revealed that the prevalence of sexual assault in the Regular Force was 1.7%.  Obviously, sexual assault is an ongoing pervasive issue.

According to the survey, most victims of sexual assaults in the Regular Force (57%) said that these incidents did NOT come to the attention of anyone in authority.

Unlike sexual assault, the reporting of sexualized or discriminatory behaviours to someone in authority did increased in the Regular Force from 16% in 2016 to 28% in 2018.

 Aw noted in the report published last week by the Senate of Canada, titled "Sexual Harassment and Violence in the Canadian Armed Forces," immediate and decisive action must be taken to avoid further cases of military sexual trauma. One such action, is to return to civil authorities the power to  investigate and prosecute sexual assaults by amending section 70 of the National Defence Act.