The top ranks of the Canadian Armed Forces are “incapable” of recognizing the “deficient” parts of a culture that keep sexual misconduct and abuse of power entrenched, according to a blistering new report.
That highly anticipated report into the culture of the Canadian Forces from former Supreme Court of Canada Justice Louise Arbour was released on Monday, exactly one year after the review formally began in May 2021.
It’s time CAF cedes more control to civilian authorities on sexual offences: Arbour
The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) has been “unwilling” and “unable” to embrace action on military sexual harassment and assault and it’s time the body cedes more control to civilian authorities, former Supreme Court Justice Louise Arbour says.
In her highly-anticipated review of the cultural crisis within the military and recommendations for a path forward, Arbour says tackling this issue requires a major rejig of existing structures, and minimizing the monopoly the CAF has over its members by tapping into the services of external institutions as it relates to prosecuting members for sexual offences.
Military should give up control of sexual assault cases permanently: former Supreme Court justice
The time has come for the Canadian Armed Forces to permanently give up control of investigations of sexual offences by its members, says a major new report by a former Supreme Court justice.
Concluding more than a year of work, Louise Arbour today released her much-anticipated report on the military’s sexual misconduct crisis. It recommends, among other things, that civilian police and courts handle all sexual assault cases involving allegations against military members.
“As challenging as it is, this organization must demonstrate enough humility to accept external help and open itself to the outside world,” wrote Arbour in the roughly 400-page report.
