At the weekend, NRK revealed widespread sexual harassment and abuse in the Norwegian Armed Forces.
A now 22-year-old woman told that she experienced bullying, harassment, unwanted sexual attention and abuse during her time in the primary service.
– It is not good enough that almost everyone is doing well. It is therefore important that we strengthen the leadership level at all levels. It is the leaders who must take the major responsibility, says Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram (Sp) to TV 2.
Together with defense chief Eirik Kristoffersen, he was a guest on TV 2’s newscast on Tuesday afternoon.
The Minister of Defense believes that harassment in the Armed Forces can have serious consequences.
– We are in a more serious situation with the war. We must have more people in the Armed Forces, so that we have a greater defence. Then it must be an attractive place to be. If it misses, it helps to lower our defensive ability, he says.
– Handled too badly
The story this weekend is not the first. In recent years, there have been several stories about harassment and bullying in the Armed Forces. In a survey published by the Norwegian Armed Forces Research Institute in 2021, 46 percent of women in the Norwegian Armed Forces said they had experienced sexual harassment.
– Safe in Norway means safe in the Armed Forces, he states.
Thomas Norman Hansen is chief security officer in the Norwegian Armed Forces.
Amanda Bergh and Thomas Norman Hansen Photo: Bjørnar Verpeide / TV 2
He is fully aware of the treatment the whistleblowers have received.
– We have handled them too badly. If we had dealt with the notifications well enough, it would not have been in the media, because then it would have been resolved. The whistleblowers feel that they have not been taken seriously, says Hansen.
Chief of Defence, Eirik Kristoffersen, reminds that there is zero tolerance for bullying and harassment.
– Are the Armed Forces’ reactions clear and strong enough?
– We have zero tolerance for bullying and sexual harassment. We do not need those who commit serious abuse. We follow the system in working life with court cases and possible dismissal where there is a need, replies the defense chief.
– Operational crisis
The Chief of Defense says that this is a crisis for the Armed Forces.
– We have to recognize that there is a lack of culture in the defence
– This is clearly a crisis. It is about those who are exposed. We have an internal enemy who engages in abuse and harassment. It’s an operational crisis when people don’t behave, he said on TV 2’s broadcast.
The Chief of Defense asks those who do not follow the rules to leave the Armed Forces.
– I have apologized to those who feel harassed. Those who do not understand the seriousness now, we do not need them in the Armed Forces, says Kristoffersen.
Crisis meeting
On Tuesday, the Minister of Defense had summoned the defense leadership, shop stewards for employees and conscripts and the Military Women’s Network to a meeting to discuss the challenges of sexual harassment.
From 1 August, new measures will be in place.
Among other things, there must be a central notification unit to which everyone can notify. This must have an overview of all cases. The aim is also that those who report should be kept better informed. Among other things, this will be made easier with the help of technological solutions.
