Former Supreme Court Justice calls for the military to give up control over sexual assault cases
Posted: May 30, 2022
By: Ashley Burke
A report from a former Supreme Court justice has come out on the Canadian Armed Forces, and includes recommendations for huge changes, including recruitment, military colleges, and for them to permanently give up control of sexual offence cases. Louise Arbour recommends that the cases are moved to be dealt with by civilian police and courts. She says that the military courts have dealt with these cases for years, but have done “little to improve efficiency, discipline and morale.” Victims have been calling for these changes for decades, saying that the Canadian Armed forces haven’t properly investigated or prosecuted cases. It’s also necessary, as military courts can take years to implement changes that civilian courts have had for years.
I feel as though it is a necessary change that should have been implemented much sooner. The military has consistently displayed violent, old fashioned, misogynistic behaviours. These behaviours are so popular, and often encouraged, to where women are often pushed out and fall victim to those around them. Furthermore, we see consistent issues with the military trying to cover up sexual misconduct cases in order to preserve their image. This also transfers over to the recruitment process, as the glory of joining the army has become less and less popular, they cannot afford a drop in their public image. If these cover-ups don’t succeed, the victim also doesn’t have the safeguard of the public court to guarantee their job, nor do they have a court system that will take their complaints seriously. Rank and power has too much influence when in a closed court system. While the public courts aren’t particularly marvelous at dealing with sexual assault cases, it should still be a huge step up from where the military is at now.
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