Military policies on sexual misconduct to be reviewed by retired judge

OTTAWA – The military says retired Supreme Court justice Marie Deschamps has agreed to conduct an independent, outside review of how the Canadian military deals with sexual misconduct.

Gen. Tom Lawson, chief of the defence staff, says Deschamps will look at and make recommendations about Canadian Forces policies, procedures and programs in relation to sexual misconduct and sexual harassment.

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She will investigate the extent to which soldiers, sailors and air personnel report alleged incidents of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment.

And she will look at whether military culture and the chain of command deter people from reporting incidents.

The review follows media reports last spring of serious sexual misconduct within the military.

Lawson says he was deeply disturbed by those reports and doesn’t accept that this is part of military culture.

READ MORE:  Internal review of sexual misconduct in military says no to ‘significant overhaul’