Swedish Armed Forces Officer Dismissed Following Sexual Harassment Report
An officer in the Swedish Armed Forces has been dismissed following a sexual harassment report from a colleague.
Key Points
- • Pauline Schulze reported sexual harassment by a naval officer during a party aboard a military ship.
- • The officer was dismissed after corroborative witness testimonies supported Schulze's claims.
- • The dismissal was influenced by the officer's altercation with superiors intervening during harassment incidents.
- • The Swedish Armed Forces has a protocol for handling unwanted behavior, termed 'ovälkommet beteende'.
- •
In 2021, during a military party in Karlskrona, Princess Schulze reported multiple instances of sexual harassment by a naval officer, leading to the officer’s dismissal after an internal investigation. Schulze detailed that the officer inappropriately touched her during the evening, prompting her to file a report after enduring four incidents of unwanted behavior.
The investigation conducted by the Swedish Armed Forces included corroborative testimonies from several colleagues who supported Schulze's claims, which proved vital in the proceedings. Importantly, the officer's termination was influenced not only by the reported incidents but also by a physical altercation he had with superiors who confronted him during the harassment.
Schulze expressed her relief at the outcome, indicating her initial fears of facing the officer again professionally. This case underscores the commitment of the Swedish Armed Forces to tackle sexual harassment through their initiative against unwanted behavior, known as 'ovälkommet beteende', although it does raise concerns about the frequency of such incidents and the repercussions for those involved.