Canadian General Says Soldiers 'Biologically Wired' to Sexually Harass
Canada's chief of defense staff provoked outrage Wednesday after saying that sexual harassment and assault in the military were largely due to people's biological wiring.
General Tom Lawson quickly back-pedaled, issuing an apology after sharing his views on sexual misconduct in the military with public broadcaster CBC, which aired excerpts Tuesday evening.
His comments triggered a flurry of criticism on social media and from opposition MPs who called for his resignation.
"It's a terrible issue," Lawson said in the CBC interview.
"It would be a trite answer but it's because we're biologically wired in a certain way and there will be those that believe it is a reasonable thing to press themselves and their desires on others."
Main opposition New Democratic Party MP Jack Harris blasted the general over the comments, saying sexual harassment is a crime and "is not something that's excused by biology."
He was echoed by Liberal MP Joyce Murray who tweeted: "Is he saying 'boys will be boys?' Deplorable excuse."
The controversy follows the release of a scathing report in April that accused the Canadian military of being "hostile" to women and gays.
The report's author, former Supreme Court justice Marie Deschamps, had been asked to investigate after cover stories by MacLean's magazine and its French-language sister publication L'Actualite, citing military records, found that one in 10 female soldiers had reported being sexually assaulted.
The two magazines estimated the figure was actually far higher when adding in unreported cases. Deschamps agreed.
In a statement, Lawson apologized for his "awkward characterization... of the issue of sexual misconduct in the Canadian Armed Forces."
"Sexual misconduct in any form, in any situation is clearly unacceptable," he said.
"My reference to biological attraction being a factor in sexual misconduct was by no means intended to excuse anyone from responsibility for their actions."
Source: Agence France Presse
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