The new figures from the Norwegian Armed Forces’ own investigation into bullying and sexual harassment show that there is still a large proportion of women in the agency who experience sexual harassment. 45 percent of women respond that they have experienced sexual harassment in the past year. This number is roughly unchanged, despite the fact that the management has said that there is zero tolerance, and that a number of measures have been put in place. The previous measurement in 2020 showed 46 percent. Chief of Defense Eirik Kristoffersen has clearly stated that there is zero tolerance for bullying and sexual harassment in the Armed Forces. Admits: – Not good enough. In May, he employed a general of his own to deal with the problem. Major General Elisabeth Michelsen has today received the fresh figures which show little improvement in the problem area of bullying and sexual harassment. – The findings confirm that we still have a big problem with bullying and sexual harassment, she says to news. The figures show little improvement compared to the previous survey: Of all those asked, 22 per cent answered that they had experienced sexual harassment. The previous survey in 2020 also showed 22 percent. In this survey, 45 per cent of the women answered that they had experienced sexual harassment. In 2020, the figure was 46 percent. Among the men who responded, 14 per cent say they have experienced sexual harassment. It is the same proportion as in 2020. Major General Elisabeth Michelsen says that sexual harassment is not okay. Photo: Øyvind Bye Skille / news As the person responsible for overcoming the problem, Major General Michelsen is clear that zero tolerance still applies as an ambition – both on her part and on the part of Defense Chief Eirik Kristoffersen. – Bullying and sexual harassment are not okay. One case is one case too many, she asserts. – But the numbers are not going down – is that good enough? – No, it’s not good enough. That is why we have put me in this position to work more directly with the problem, says Michelsen. – When you have put many measures in place and have a stated zero tolerance – why does the proportion who experience sexual harassment not decrease? – This means that the measures we have put in place have not had a good enough effect, replies the general against bullying and sexual harassment. Several have experienced harassment The first major survey of bullying and sexual harassment in the Armed Forces (the MOST survey) was conducted in 2018. Since then, the survey has been conducted twice more – in 2020 and now in 2022. The latest survey was conducted at the same time as there has been a strong focus on sexual harassment and abuse in the Armed Forces. Among other things, news has published a number of cases about abuse and abuse in the Armed Forces. Among them has been the story of five women who told in reports and interrogations about sex from a superior officer and an employee who experienced being pressured by her boss who wanted her to lie to the police. Silje Falmår also told news in February how she had experienced both verbal and physical sexual harassment during her time in the first service. She was able to tell news that the harassment was repeated, again and again, from male fellow soldiers. – There was a demand for pictures of the body, for example. Question if they could join me in the shower. If I could come and suck them or sleep with them at the weekend, if they could touch me or watch me change clothes in the room, Falmår told news. These are examples of comments she then reported to her bosses in the Armed Forces: Graphic: news The general against bullying and harassment Elisabeth Michelsen says they must work on better measures. At the same time, she is also clear that everyone must understand what sexual harassment actually is. – Making a negative statement that women cannot do various things because of their gender is gender harassment. It takes place in great abundance. We must ensure that we comply with zero tolerance – and that there are consequences, says Michelsen to news. Young people and women in uniform experience the most The survey was made by the Norwegian Defense Research Institute (FFI). Survey Bullying and sexual harassment in the Armed Forces 2022 Survey carried out among all employees in the Armed Forces and all conscripts in the initial service who had served for at least six months. FFI has developed the questions and analyzed the results on behalf of the Norwegian Armed Forces. 10,891 responded to the survey in the period November 2022 to January 2023. This corresponded to a response rate of 48 per cent. It is the third time the topic has been investigated in the Norwegian Armed Forces. Similar surveys have previously been carried out in 2018 and 2020. Sexual harassment: The survey has asked a number of questions relating to sexual harassment, unwanted sexual acts/attention and abuse. The questions are asked with the following introductory wording: “During the past twelve months, have you experienced, either during or outside of duty, someone who serves in the Armed Forces,…”. Bullying: The survey has asked a number of questions related to bullying. The questions are asked with the following introductory wording: “During the past six months, have you experienced, either during or outside of duty, someone who serves in the Armed Forces…” Research leader Kari Røren Strand at FFI explains that there are some who are particularly exposed to sexual harassment. – It is young women and those in uniform who experience the most sexual harassment. There are also large gender differences. Women experience approximately four times as much gender harassment as men – and three times as much unwanted sexual attention, says research leader Strand to news. Research manager Kari Røren Strand at FFI has led the work on the survey. Photo: Tom Balgaard / news She explains that they measure sexual harassment through a number of different questions. These then provide information on several different forms of sexual harassment: gender harassment unwanted sexual attention sexual pressure sexual assault According to the research leader, gender harassment in particular is widespread, but unwanted sexual attention is also experienced by many women in the Armed Forces. The FFI researcher explains that it is difficult to compare the figures from the Armed Forces with other parts of society, partly because they are not measured in the same way elsewhere. – It can be a bit difficult to compare these figures with other places in society. This is because the measurement in the Armed Forces is very extensive. She explains that they can still look at comparisons with other parts of the defense sector. They then see that it is worse in the Armed Forces itself than, for example, businesses such as Forsvarsbygg, FFI and the Ministry of Defence. – Then we see that the military experience more sexual harassment than the rest of the defense sector, says Strand. Hello! Do you have any input for us? Do you know of other matters in the Armed Forces that news should look at? Or do you know more about this case? Feel free to contact us by e-mail if you have input. You can also send us input, tips and information encrypted and secure via news’s extra secure notification reception – see how to submit via news’s SecureDrop here. news’s journalists have previously made several cases about conditions in the Armed Forces – among other things about whistle-blowing, about the senior sergeant who was tried to be pressured to lie to the police, the helicopter squadron commander who was tried to be pressured out of his job, the women who told about sexual harassment from a colonel, the lieutenant colonel who said that she was asked to write about reports, about trampling by Norwegian officers on UN missions in South Sudan and about Silje Falmår who told about bullying, harassment and abuse during his initial service. We are always interested in new information that enables us to shine a spotlight on the defense sector. So just get in touch with us. Marit Higraff, Tormod Strand, Christine Svendsen, Øyvind Bye SkilleJournalists at NRKSend me an e-mail
ttn-69
