Sexual Assault in the (UK) military (content warning)

[ArabellaScott]

This from the Peace Pledge Union:

'10 of the 290 young women who have joined the UK military this year have already reported being raped or sexually assaulted.

The figures were provided this week by the Ministry of Defence following a request under the Freedom of Information Act by the Child Rights International Network.

The statistics relate to young women aged 16 and 17. Between 2015 and 2020, one in every forty women aged under 18 in the forces reported rape or sexual assault to the Military Police, rising to one in every 29 this year.

Following the news, the Peace Pledge Union insisted that the armed forces must lose the power to police themselves, particularly in relation to rape and sexual assault. '

The right of the military to police themselves is being debated currently in the HoL.

That is horrific. They're brave to report and must be supported, with career ending consequences for those who have assaulted them.

Oh, sorry, forgot the link:

www.ppu.org.uk/news/military-must-lose-power-police-themselves-after-assault-revelations?

And checking the original source, it's shocking how much this seems to have risen in the past few years:

home.crin.org/readlistenwatch/stories/military-sexual-violence

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tenfold-rise-in-rapes-and-sexual-assaults-on-girls-in-military-pkvck6nbg

It’s a very small sample size so a difference in just a few assaults can drastically affect the ratios. So I don’t find it that shocking tbh.

That said, it should be compared to the rate of sexual assault in the general population to see if the military is better/worse/the same. Then action based on that comparison. If it’s worse, then there is a case for not having a separate military justice system, but if it’s same or better, then there is no case to say armed forces must lose their own justice system.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10026373/Sandhurst-cadet-killed-instructor-affair-officers-named-interested-parties.html

This is not exactly the same, but I saw this a few weeks ago and this thread has reminded me of it. I think the case is ongoing.