Survivors of rape are calling on the Defence Force to establish an independent body to investigate sexual violence after more than half of serving women in an internal army report had been sexually assaulted or harassed in the previous year. Stuff obtained the report ‘Barriers to Recruitment and Retention of Women’ as part of its ongoing Me Too investigation into sexual harassment in the armed forces. They say women should be able to report sexual violence to an independent body. Nine women said they had been raped or the victims of a serious sexual assault in the previous year, 2019. “All of the incidents discussed by the interviewees were sexual assault of NZ Army women by NZ Army men.

Source: Stuff May 01, 2021 16:52 UTC