On Saturday, news reported on yet another case where harassment was reported in the Armed Forces. The notice described sexual harassment of 11 female soldiers in their initial service. Three rapes were also reported in the notice. Silje Falmår (22) chose to come forward with her story, in the hope that no one else will have to experience it together as she did. She herself said that she experienced bullying, harassment, unwanted sexual attention and abuse. On Tuesday evening, Falmår will meet the Chief of Defense and the Minister of Defense face to face in the Debate. – I think he needs it. To look into my eyes. So that he will understand the seriousness, says Falmår to news before the Debate. Watch the Debate at 9.20pm. Girls report rape in the Armed Forces “-As if some of the guys were hunting” Dishwashing meeting news’s report from Bardufoss has caused strong reactions and triggered criticism from several quarters. On Tuesday morning, the defense management, shop stewards and the Minister of Defense sat in a clean-up meeting after the revelations about the whistle-blowing cases. SERIOUS: Minister of Defense Bjørn Arild Gram together with Chief of Defense Eirik Kristoffersen. They attended a meeting on Tuesday in addition to union representatives and others from defense management. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB After the meeting, Chief of Defense Eirik Kristoffersen said that the Whistleblowing Institute in the Defense Force will now be elevated to central level. – There must be a central reporting unit in the Armed Forces to which everyone can report. It must have an overview of all alerts and be supported by technological solutions. This is how the cases that are notified about should follow the people after the handling is done, said Kristoffersen. The armed forces must also improve their ability to provide information to whistleblowers during the process. The measures must be in place by 1 August. Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram said that the meeting on Tuesday was a “good and useful meeting”. At the same time, he said that one must be aware of how the hierarchy and masculine values play into the culture of the Armed Forces. – It is very important that whistleblowers are taken very seriously. They have a right to that, said Gram. Silje was looking forward to starting in the Armed Forces. But it didn’t turn out as she hoped. She experienced bullying and sexual harassment. Must be cleaned up The Chief of Defense does not want to say that there is a lack of culture in the Armed Forces. He believes the term is too imprecise, but has acknowledged that the revelations show a cultural problem. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre commented for the first time on the matters concerning the notifications in the Armed Forces. He does not agree with the defense chief, and believes it is uncultured. – What we have seen in news’s reports is an expression of a lack of culture. Because you can’t call such experiences anything else. I assume that it will be cleaned up, said Støre to news. Støre also said that it gives a deep impression to see young people who enter the Armed Forces and have negative and degrading experiences. – You are left with the impression that this is not how it should be. And we have to do something about it, said Støre.
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Varsler meets the chief of defense face to face – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
