Sexual harassment recurrent among Norwegian troops

In a recent survey, more than 160 members of Norwegian Armed Forces said they were raped or almost raped in a period of twelve months, public broadcaster NRK reported Tuesday.

In autumn 2018, the Armed Forces conducted a survey among employees and conscripts to map out bullying and sexual harassment.

According to the report, 44 people, among which 24 are women and 20 men, said that they had been raped, while 123 people said that they had been subjected to attempted rape during a 12-month period.

Moreover, 35 people said that perpetrators took advantage of their position to push them to "unwanted sexual activity".

"The Armed Forces have been regulated and we have implemented a number of measures. So that we have so many incidents in and outside of service surprises me and makes me extra enraged," Norwegian Chief of Defence Haakon Bruun-Hanssen told NRK.

According to him, only two rape cases have been reported to the police during the same period.

On Feb. 11, Norwegian Officers' Union held an extraordinary meeting in which new measures against bullying and sexual harassment were presented.

The measures include preventive attitude and information campaigns and will also review the notification system.