Gang rape and bullying..a report reveals the inferno of British army female recruits
A parliamentary report said on Sunday that nearly two-thirds of female veterans in Britain's armed forces have experienced bullying, harassment or discrimination during their careers.
The report also stated that women, who reported serious sexual crimes, were being "denied justice" due to an inadequate military court system and complaints process.
According to Al-Hurra, the House of Commons Defense Committee concluded that 64 percent of female war veterans and 58 percent of women in service now reported experiencing bullying, harassment, and discrimination in the military.
Most stated that they did not believe the military was doing enough to solve the problem.
The commission heard accounts of "unacceptable behaviour", including gang rape, bullying, sexual harassment, and other assaults by senior officers.
Others said: "We have seen female friends being attacked by groups of men, but they are too afraid to report it."
I add that dining halls and accommodation were considered "dangerous places".
MP Sarah Atherton, who chairs the Subcommittee on Women in the British Armed Forces, said: "The current complaints system is completely inadequate and most soldiers feel they are unable to make a complaint.
We also heard of prominent officers cracking down on complaints to protect their reputations and their jobs.”
"It is clear that serious sexual crimes should not be considered in military courts.
Conviction rates in military courts may not be four to six times lower than in civilian courts.
Military women are denied justice.
About 4,200 women participated in the investigation, one in ten of whom is still in service.
This is the first time that the British Ministry of Defense has lifted the usual restrictions that prevent soldiers from speaking in the investigations.
The report urged authorities to hand cases of rape and sexual assault from military courts to the civilian court system, and called for the formation of a new, independent defense body to look into allegations of bullying, harassment, and discrimination.
The committee also detailed the practical challenges facing these women.
More than three-quarters of female serving female officers who participated in the survey complained of wearing inappropriate uniforms and body armor, which made them more vulnerable to harm during combat.
The report stated that their mothers often made the greatest professional sacrifices, and sometimes left the army due to difficulties in balancing service and family life.
"While many changes have been made to improve the experience of women in the armed forces, the truth is that this experience has not worked, and may have caused severe damage in some cases," Defense Minister Annabelle Goldie noted.
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