EDM 785: Military sexual trauma

That this House notes that military sexual trauma refers to rape, sexual assault or sexual harassment experienced during military service; further notes that it is distinct owing to the self-contained nature of military life, the unique pressures of military training environments and operational theatres, professional and social hierarchical structures and loyalty to the service; also notes that these, amongst other factors, may leave personnel and family members uniquely vulnerable to manipulation and exploitation, cut off from regular avenues of support and unable to create distance between themselves and the perpetrators; and believes that the Ministry of Defence has a duty to (a) recognise military sexual trauma and its unique contributory factors, (b) take appropriate steps to safeguard those vulnerable to manipulation and exploitation, (c) support victims and (d) take action against perpetrators.