More than 60% of women serving in the German armed forces have experienced sexual harassment, from lewd remarks to physical violence, according to a report by Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
A new study in the German army was to reveal the true extent of the problem. Pistorius stated that the real number of such cases is 3-5 times higher than the official registered number.
Among the military personnel who participated in the survey, 4,000 reported that they had been sexually harassed during their service. Mostly, young women suffer.
Almost 40% of the military personnel surveyed reported that they encountered obscene comments of a sexual nature. Another 15% reported being harassed through photos taken without their consent or altered through artificial intelligence. 9% of the women interviewed were physically assaulted, and 2% reported sexual violence.
Pistorius presented a plan to combat sexual harassment in the Bundeswehr. It establishes mandatory training of military personnel, clear procedures for investigating such cases, punishment of violators and psychological support for victims.