A survey released on November 13 revealed that two-thirds of women in the British Army experienced sexualized behavior in the past year, prompting the government to call the findings wholly unacceptable. The survey, the first of its kind across the military, found that 67% of female personnel encountered general sexualized behaviors, such as inappropriate jokes or comments, while 21% faced more targeted actions like unwanted touching or sexual advances. For men, 32% reported general behaviors, and 6% reported targeted behaviors.

Veterans Minister Louise Sandher-Jones emphasized that all military personnel should be treated with dignity and respect, condemning the survey results. In response, the Ministry of Defence announced plans to send specialized prevention teams to training bases in northern and southwestern England, with further expansion to Cyprus and a Royal Air Force base by 2026. The initiative will educate recruits on consent, misogyny, and harmful online influences.

With a total of 137,000 regular personnel, including about 16,300 women (roughly 12% of the force), the British military has faced several high-profile cases of bullying, abuse, and sexual harassment in recent years. Last month, a former army sergeant major was sentenced to six months in prison for sexually assaulting a 19-year-old soldier, who later took her own life. The announcement also follows growing criticism of the Armed Forces complaints system, which the Service Complaints Ombudsman has labeled inefficient and unfair. Air Chief Marshal Richard Knighton, head of the UK Armed Forces, acknowledged the need for stronger actions to eliminate such behaviors from the military.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.