Bundeswehr study exposes widespread sexual harassment in German military

Sexual misconduct in the Bundeswehr is far more widespread than previously known, with younger women disproportionately affected. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has called for a policy of "zero tolerance." "It was clear to us from the outset that the analysis would uncover uncomfortable truths," Defence Minister Boris Pistorius of the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) told the Bundestag on Wednesday. Earlier that day, he had presented the findings of the Bundeswehr 's first study into unreported cases of sexual misconduct to the Defence Committee.

According to the findings, sexual misconduct in the Bundeswehr is far more widespread than previously known. "The study has shown that only between one third and one sixth of cases are reported," Pistorius said, announcing an action plan to address the issue. "There is zero tolerance for sexual misconduct in the Bundeswehr.

This is nothing less than a matter of upholding the human dignity enshrined in our Basic Law .