Rights watchdog calls for more women in Oz defence forces to end rampant sexual abuse

Sydney, Aug. 23 (ANI): A landmark review on women serving in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) has recommended a greater representation of women in the higher ranks of the ADF.

The review also recommended that leaders who fail to crack down on abuse and sexual harassment on women in the military should be punished.

Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick issued the second part of her review of women serving in the ADF, which made 21 recommendations, each gaining 'broad' support of the government and Defence heads.

Broderick, delivering the 650-page report, said she was 'not confident' women serving in the ADF 'can and will flourish'.

According to the Age, she also called for the number of women serving in the military to be addressed.

Women made up to 46 percent of the total Australian workforce, but only 18.4 percent of the Navy, 10.1 percent of the Army and 17 percent of the Air Force, the report said.

"If we want the most operationally effective performing defence force in this country, then we need to recognise that the talent exists in both men and women," the report quoted Broderick, as saying.

"Modern warfare is changing. The idea that it's all about physical and manual strength is just no longer the case. So I do absolutely think that there will be a day when women will flourish like men in all parts of the ADF. Are we there today? The answer would have to be no," Broderick said.

According to the report, Defence chief David Hurley 'broadly accepted' Broderick's findings and Defence Minister Stephen Smith accepted the recommendations in principle.

"This is, in my view, a deeply significant report about the ADF and about the future of the ADF and about the ADF being a modern defence force," Smith said, adding: "This is now the prism through which we will look at the treatment and role of women in the ADF".

The review found sexual harassment and abuse existed in all areas of the defence force, with members often deciding not to report incidents because of fear of victimization, the report said.(ANI)

null