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In considered one of her first acts as Canadaโs new defence minister, Anita Anand introduced immediately sheโs transferring the investigation and prosecution of sexual misconduct circumstances throughout the Canadian Forces into the civilian justice system.
The transfer follows a suggestion from retired Supreme Courtroom justice Louise Arbour.
Theย navy has been reeling over a collection of sexual misconduct investigations. Since early February 2021, 11 present and former senior Canadian navyย leadersย have been sidelined,ย investigated or pressured into retirement from a number of the strongest and prestigiousย posts inย the defence institution.
Arbour is main an exterior evaluate into sexual harassment and misconduct within the Canadian navy. Sheโs advising the federal authoritiesย on how an impartial, exterior reporting system โ one which permits victims toย report acts violence and misconduct with out concern of reprisal โ might be put in place.
Her evaluate, which started in April, is predicted to final a few 12 months. Anandโs transfer immediately is in response to one of many interim suggestions Arbour gaveย to Anandโs predecessor,ย Harjit Sajjan, final month.
Arbour mentioned that the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF)ย ought to proceed to conduct administrative opinions of sexual misconduct circumstances in parallel with civilian courts, no matter whether or not these circumstances end in expenses.ย
Arbour mentioned, nonetheless, that โspecific considerationโ must be given to โhow and when civilian authoritiesย โ in the midst of an investigationย โ ought to convey related details about the investigation to the CAF management.โ
Survivors ofย sexual assault and misconduct within the ranks testifying earlier than current parliamentary committees have referred to as for an exterior reporting company.
These committees launchedย hearings after the nationโs two most senior navy commanders โย retired common Jonathan Vance and Admiral Artwork McDonald โ have been accusedย individuallyย of inappropriate behaviour.
Iโve accepted in full Madame Arbourโs suggestions to maneuver the investigation & prosecution of sexual misconduct circumstances to the civilian system. <a href=โhttps://t.co/ZD8Hr6bF9cโ>pic.twitter.com/ZD8Hr6bF9c</a>
—@AnitaOakville
In a media assertion, Arbour mentioned she welcomed Anandโs determination.
โAs outlined in my interim report, the problem of sexual misconduct within the CAF has opened the establishment to unprecedented scrutiny and an equally unprecedented alternative for change. Iโll proceed as a part of my evaluate to determine these alternatives in all of the areas that fall inside my mandate,โ she mentioned.ย
Extra to come back โฆ
ย
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