All military sex offence cases now in the hands of civilian courts: minister
Canada’s defence minister says 100 per cent of expenses of Criminal Code sexual offences are actually being dealt with by the civilian justice system, with no new circumstances being adjudicated by the army.
In a press release launched Tuesday, Anita Anand mentioned the replace got here following the advice by former Supreme Court Justice Louise Arbour to switch the prosecution and investigation of Criminal Code sexual offences from the army justice system to the civilian justice system.
Earlier this month, the Canadian Armed Forces mentioned that as of May 8, 2023, of the 190 circumstances reported to the army police there have been 93 referred to federal, provincial, and municipal police providers. Of these, 64 have been accepted and 29 have been declined.
“Various reasons exist as to why 97 cases were not referred which include allegations that occurred outside the country, cases where the victim does not want to proceed with a police investigation and cases where the victim prefers an MP [military police] investigation,” the army mentioned on the time.
“For example, of those cases not referred, 20 reflect cases whereby the victim preferred an MP [military police] investigation.
Global News first began reporting in February 2021 into allegations of sexual misconduct against senior military leaders, which spurred months of intense national scrutiny and what experts called a “crisis” for the Canadian Forces.
Arbour was introduced on on account of that reporting to launch an impartial evaluate into the way to repair the tradition of the army, and issued her interim advice to switch all circumstances to the civilian system in fall 2021.
In May 2022, she tabled her full report, a scathing indictment of a “broken system” that was out of sync with Canadian societal values, including it poses a “liability” to the nation.
Among her suggestions had been main reforms to the army schools the place future leaders are skilled, and the minister mentioned Tuesday members of a evaluate board probing the universities would quickly be introduced.
“We have also implemented screening measures during the pre- and post-recruitment phases, such as new and refined screening and interview questions, tattoo screening, and use of enrollment release processes,” Anand wrote of the adjustments to the army screening course of.
Earlier this month, exterior monitor Jocelyne Therrien launched her first report on the army’s response to the Arbour report, during which she mentioned whereas progress was being made there was nonetheless no “overall strategic plan” to vary its tradition.
Therrien concluded a “significant level of tangible activity” had been taken inside the army on lots of the Arbour report’s 48 suggestions, however an overarching plan to handle these adjustments was wanted to make sure reform happens “in a timely manner.”
The army is struggling to recruit new members — a separate exterior evaluate final spring warned that the present tradition is “repulsing” potential recruits.
But regardless of the warnings, authorities and army officers highlighted the progress made to date, one thing Anand once more careworn on Tuesday in her assertion.
“Over the past year, we have made progress – and we are continuing to work hard on this mission every day,” she wrote. “Progress is necessary and achievable.”
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