The Ministry of Defence has been reported to the equalities watchdog after claims from female civil servants that it has failed adequately to address allegations of sexual harassment and assault.
The union Prospect wrote to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) asking for an investigation into whether the MoD was failing in its public sector equalities duty in relation to discrimination, harassment and victimisation. The EHRC will now have to decide whether to take action.
The union called for an inquiry after about 60 senior women at the department wrote to the permanent secretary to the MoD, David Williams, in October with a joint letter that alleged sexual assault, harassment and abuse by male colleagues.
After that, a MoD civil servant came forward to Prospect to tell of being subjected to three separate incidents of sexual assault by male colleagues.
In its letter, Prospect said: “We are increasingly concerned that the MoD has failed to comply with its obligations under the PSED [public sector equality duty], in particular the requirement to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any other conduct that is prohibited by or under the Equality Act 2010.
“As the body responsible for enforcing the PSED and monitoring compliance, we ask that the Equality and Human Rights Commission urgently investigates the MoD’s compliance with the general and specific duties under the PSED.”
Mike Clancy, the general secretary of Prospect, said recent revelations about a culture of sexual harassment and abuse within the department and a failure to take action on that culture, suggested the MoD was failing to meet its obligation.
“It is our hope that the EHRC will investigate this matter and force the MoD to take appropriate action to ensure equality and a safe working environment for its female employees,” he said.
“It is frankly ridiculous that in 2024 a government department should have to be compelled to take action when employees are being sexually harassed and assaulted in this way. It’s time they properly engaged with unions to put adequate systems in place to protect their workforce and root out unacceptable behaviour.”
Prospect said it had been calling for a review of the MoD’s bullying, harassment and victimisation policies since September 2022, but that the department HR forum had not engaged with the union.
A spokesperson for the watchdog said: “The EHRC receives complaints each week about allegations of unlawful activity contrary to the Equality Act 2010. We consider each complaint carefully and take action where appropriate.”
A spokesperson for the MoD said: “Harassment and discrimination is not tolerated and no one should be made to feel unsafe. We are committed to stamping this out and we continue to encourage anyone who has experienced or witnessed unacceptable behaviour to report it immediately.”
