Report Finds Widespread Sexual Harassment at Australia’s Military Academy

The Australian Human Rights Commission has issued a report finding widespread sexual harassment on the campus of the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra.

The survey found that 74.1 percent of the women enrolled at the military academy reported that they had been subjected to some form of “unacceptable” sexual harassment. Some 2.1 percent of the female cadets reported that they had been forced to have sex without consent and 4.3 percent said they had been treated badly for refusing to consent to sex.

Elizabeth Broderick, sex discrimination commissioner at the Human Rights Commission, stated in a news conference that there was a “warrior culture” at the academy. “The research suggests that in those circumstances, it will be more difficult for women,” she said. Commissioner Broderick also stated that it was her view a culture of alcohol consumption at the academy contributed to the situation.

The report can be downloaded here.