Open letter on sexual harassment in the Ministry of Defence and wider defence industry
Prospect, with the support of other unions, academics and campaigners, has submitted an open letter to the Ministry of Defence calling for a “comprehensive and independent inquiry into sexual harassment in defence.”
Prospect’s letter comes after more than 60 women went public about sexual harassment and sexism within the MOD last November.
Propect’s own survey of its members working in defence found that around 60% had experienced or witnessed sexual harassment at work.
The letter reads:
The revelations in recent months about sexual harassment in the Ministry of Defence are both appalling and depressing. That so many victims, the vast majority of whom are women, have faced this behaviour is a stain on the reputation of the Government.
Unfortunately, whilst they are shocking they are not surprising. For too long this type of behaviour has been excused as harmless ‘banter’ rather than recognised as representative of a toxic culture and exploitative power dynamics. There have been reports of this type of harassment for over 20 years, but still it has not been comprehensively addressed.
While there are clearly many victims of this kind of abuse in the armed services, this issue clearly goes much wider. Civil servants in the Ministry of Defence have too often been victims, and it also affects those working for defence contractors sharing these workspaces too.
It is high time that there is a comprehensive and independent inquiry into sexual harassment in defence that listens to victims and makes binding recommendations for action by the MoD.
The defence of our nation needs and deserves the most talented people. We will not get them until the defence sector becomes a safe environment that protects everyone who works in it.
The defence of our nation needs and deserves the most talented people. We will not get them until the defence sector becomes a safe environment that protects everyone who works in it.
Signed:
Sue Ferns – Senior Deputy General Secretary, Prospect
Paul Nowak – General Secretary, Trades Union Congress
Dave Penman – General Secretary, FDA
Fran Heathcote – General Secretary, PCS
Jemima Olchawski – CEO, Fawcett Society
Deeba Syed – Senior Legal Officer, Rights of Women
Dr Harriet Gray – Senior Lecturer, University of York
Professor Victoria Basham – Head of Department, Cardiff University
Nicola Lester – Psychological Trauma Consultant
Dr Lauren Godier-McBard – Co-Director Centre for Women’s Military Research
Emma Norton – Director, Centre for Military Justice
Lucy Baston – Solicitor, Centre for Military Justice
Zelda Perkins – Can’t buy my Silence
Rebecca Ladbury – Times Up UK
