Bullying and sexual harassment in the Norwegian Armed Forces, Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) and Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) – results from the 2024 survey
FFI-Report
2025
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In this report, we present the results of a survey on bullying and sexual harassment in the Armed Forces, in the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA), and at the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) conducted in December 2024. This is the fourth time such a survey has been conducted in the Armed Forces, and the second time it has been conducted in NDMA and at FFI.
The survey indicates the prevalence of bullying and sexual harassment in 2024, as well as awareness and trust in the reporting system. The results show that gender and age affect the likelihood of experiencing both bullying and sexual harassment in the defense sector. Young people, especially young women, are more likely to experience bullying and sexual harassment.
Because gender and age affect the likelihood of experiencing bullying and sexual harassment, we divide the respondents into different groups in our analyses: conscripts/students, young employees (30 years and younger), and older employees (over 30 years).
In the Armed Forces, bullying was most prevalent among conscripts/students, where 25 percent of women and 17 percent of men had experienced bullying in the last six months. Among young employees, the proportion was 17 percent for women and 11 percent for men. The proportion among female employees older than 30 was 8 percent in the Armed Forces and 7 percent in the FMA. Among male employees over 30 years, 6 percent in the Armed Forces and 4 percent in FMA had experienced bullying. At FFI, bullying was generally less prevalent, with only 3 percent of employees reporting such experiences.
When it comes to sexual harassment, approximately 50 percent of female conscripts/students and young female employees in the Armed Forces and FMA had such experiences it in the last 12 months. Among male conscripts/students and young employees, the prevalence was 12–14 percent. The prevalence among women over 30 years was 24 percent in the Armed Forces and 19 percent in FMA, while for men it was around 8 percent in both organizations. At FFI, sexual harassment was generally less prevalent, with only 6 percent reporting such experiences.
Slightly more people knew how to report in 2024 than in 2022, but many were unsure about which incidents to report. The proportion of people reporting was almost unchanged from 2022 to 2024. The main reasons respondents did not report were that they did not want to proceed with the incident, that they were unsure if the incident was serious enough, and that they did not believe the report would lead to any action.
The results of the survey show that the level of bullying and sexual harassment has remained roughly unchanged since 2022 in all three organizations, although sexual harassment among conscripts/students and young female employees in the Armed Forces has decreased. The prevalence is still high in certain groups, however, and we recommend that the defense sector strengthens its efforts to prevent and combat bullying and sexual harassment.
The survey indicates the prevalence of bullying and sexual harassment in 2024, as well as awareness and trust in the reporting system. The results show that gender and age affect the likelihood of experiencing both bullying and sexual harassment in the defense sector. Young people, especially young women, are more likely to experience bullying and sexual harassment.
Because gender and age affect the likelihood of experiencing bullying and sexual harassment, we divide the respondents into different groups in our analyses: conscripts/students, young employees (30 years and younger), and older employees (over 30 years).
In the Armed Forces, bullying was most prevalent among conscripts/students, where 25 percent of women and 17 percent of men had experienced bullying in the last six months. Among young employees, the proportion was 17 percent for women and 11 percent for men. The proportion among female employees older than 30 was 8 percent in the Armed Forces and 7 percent in the FMA. Among male employees over 30 years, 6 percent in the Armed Forces and 4 percent in FMA had experienced bullying. At FFI, bullying was generally less prevalent, with only 3 percent of employees reporting such experiences.
When it comes to sexual harassment, approximately 50 percent of female conscripts/students and young female employees in the Armed Forces and FMA had such experiences it in the last 12 months. Among male conscripts/students and young employees, the prevalence was 12–14 percent. The prevalence among women over 30 years was 24 percent in the Armed Forces and 19 percent in FMA, while for men it was around 8 percent in both organizations. At FFI, sexual harassment was generally less prevalent, with only 6 percent reporting such experiences.
Slightly more people knew how to report in 2024 than in 2022, but many were unsure about which incidents to report. The proportion of people reporting was almost unchanged from 2022 to 2024. The main reasons respondents did not report were that they did not want to proceed with the incident, that they were unsure if the incident was serious enough, and that they did not believe the report would lead to any action.
The results of the survey show that the level of bullying and sexual harassment has remained roughly unchanged since 2022 in all three organizations, although sexual harassment among conscripts/students and young female employees in the Armed Forces has decreased. The prevalence is still high in certain groups, however, and we recommend that the defense sector strengthens its efforts to prevent and combat bullying and sexual harassment.
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