EOC and MoD sign new action plan to address sexual harassment in the armed forces

Citation

(2006), "EOC and MoD sign new action plan to address sexual harassment in the armed forces", Women in Management Review, Vol. 21 No. 6. https://doi.org/10.1108/wimr.2006.05321fab.008

EOC and MoD sign new action plan to address sexual harassment in the armed forces

EOC and MoD sign new action plan to address sexual harassment in the armed forces

A new action plan to prevent and deal with sexual harassment in the British Armed Forces was today agreed by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) following research to clarify its extent.

Extensive research carried out by independent consultants into the nature and extent of sexual harassment in the armed forces, including a survey of all service women and a series of focus groups, was completed by the MOD as part of the first phase of its Agreement with the EOC. There was a high response rate (52 percent) and the responses were broadly consistent across the three services.

The research found that sexualized behaviors (jokes, stories, language and material) were widespread in all three services. Almost all (99 percent) of the servicewomen who responded had been in situations where such sexualized behaviors had taken place in the previous 12 months, with two-thirds (67 percent) having had such behaviors directed at them personally and 15 percent having had a “particularly upsetting” experience.

The action plan forms phase three of an Agreement signed by the MOD and the EOC in June 2005, on preventing and dealing with sexual harassment in the armed forces. It demonstrates the MOD's commitment to tackling the serious issues highlighted by this research. It provides a clear undertaking to create an environment, through strong leadership, in which harassment is recognized as inappropriate and preventable. The action plan aims to ensure that leaders in the Armed Forces take seriously their responsibilities to deal with harassment, by handling complaints appropriately and implementing effective monitoring arrangements. Service personnel will be encouraged to offer their views on how to prevent and deal with sexual harassment.

The action plan commits the MOD to delivering real improvements for service personnel, including increased confidence in the complaints system and a reduction in the number of women reporting that unwanted behavior of a sexual nature had been targeted at them. The EOC will be working with the MOD to monitor its progress.

The Secretary of State for Defence Des Browne welcomed the next phase of the Agreement saying:

Over the last ten years our Armed Forces have been deployed across the world in support of our fundamental democratic values – equal respect, toleration, and human rights. They are role models and standard-bearers for the values they defend. It is, therefore, absolutely vital that these values are clearly upheld within our Armed Forces themselves, and that all our Service men and women feel respected and valued regardless of gender, race, religion or sexual orientation. Without this our Armed Forces will not be able to sustain the teamwork and camaraderie they need, to continue to maintain the highest standards in the challenging commitments they face across the world.

As this report sets out, there are serious issues we need to address. But I am pleased to be able to say that our Agreement with the Equal Opportunities Commission has begun a productive relationship that has helped us to further understand the nature and extent of the problems, and develop a challenging plan of action to deal with them. I look forward to working further with the Commission, to help us implement this plan and ensure that progress is maintained.

Chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission, Jenny Watson, said:

Sexual harassment is a serious problem which can cause great harm to individuals, and damage entire organisations: every employer needs to be vigilant to ensure that it does not take root in their organisational culture. In June 2005, the EOC suspended a formal investigation into sexual harassment in the Armed Forces, on condition that the MOD committed to work with us to address the issue within an agreed timescale.

Since then, the MOD has undertaken valuable research to discover the true extent of the issues it faces, and we welcome the leadership and determination that they have shown to tackle the problem. We'll be working with the MOD over the coming months as they improve working conditions for Service personnel, and working together, we hope to ensure that this commitment translates into real improvements for the men and women who do such a vital job for our country.

The Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup said:

It is clear from the research we have conducted that we have a problem with which we must deal urgently. This is not about political correctness. It is about operational effectiveness. Our success as Armed Forces depends fundamentally on respect, trust and mutual interdependence. Anything that weakens those bonds of trust and respect weakens us as a fighting force. Harassment does just that, so it is crucial that we deal with it. Acknowledging the problem is an important first step.

What we will do is insist that each and every member of the Armed Forces recognises and values one another for what they contribute rather than who they are. That we treat others with the respect we would expect to receive ourselves – that is the proper due of anyone who serves their country. I want every Service person, irrespective of rank, to understand that it is their duty to challenge inappropriate behaviour; that a failure to do so lets us all down. I want everyone to understand that eradicating harassment is the responsibility of each of us. And that key to our success is the proper application – at every level – of the strong leadership that we see in such abundance on operations. We have outstanding people, and I know that together we can deal with this issue.

The Agreement signed last year by the EOC and MOD will now enter its implementation and monitoring phase, ending in June 2008. At the end of this period, the EOC will decide whether the MOD has complied fully with the Agreement, or whether it will need to take further action.