This archive report was first published on 20 July 2019.
On July 20, 2019, the Canadian government announced a landmark settlement to address allegations of widespread sexual misconduct within the Armed Forces and Department of National Defense.
The agreement, worth nearly Ksh. 100 billion, will be distributed among members of the class action lawsuits and current or former employees who experienced sexual harassment, assault, or discrimination based on sex, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
Individual payments will range from Ksh. 500,000 to Ksh. 5,500,000, depending on the type of treatment they experienced, with exceptional cases eligible for up to Ksh. 15,500,000.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emphasized the government's commitment to addressing sexual misconduct, stating, “We’re a government that takes sexual misconduct extremely seriously. No one should feel unsafe in their place of work, in their communities.”
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan added that the Forces will continue to learn from survivors as they work towards lasting and positive change.
A hearing to approve the agreement is scheduled for September, and the settlement comes after the government moved to settle the class action suit following criticism of language used in court documents.
