Arabic version: نساء يطالبن بالمساءلة بشأن إساءة مزعومة في مدرسة

According to The Guardian, two women in their 50s say they are seeking accountability from the Ministry of Defence over alleged sexual abuse they experienced as 10-year-old pupils at a British military school in Bünde, Germany, during the 1980s. Anne and Jane, whose names have been changed, say a staff member connected with the school coerced them into silence by warning that their fathers could lose their army jobs.

The women say they discussed the alleged abuse only with each other for decades. Anne came forward in 2018 through the Truth Project run by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in England and Wales, and the case was passed to the Royal Military Police. After reconnecting with Jane, the pair expected an investigation could lead to a prosecution.

However, the Royal Military Police said it could not progress the case because it could not establish jurisdiction. The reported absence of the man’s employment contract and evidence that he paid tax to the British crown meant police could not prove he was employed under a Ministry of Defence London contract rather than locally. The women were told a German prosecution was not possible because the statute of limitations had expired.

A second investigation by the Defence Serious Crime Unit reached the same conclusion after records for the school from the period had been destroyed. A senior officer apologised in writing for the initial handling of the case. The Defence Serious Crime Command said it regretted that handling fell below expected standards, and said a new investigation launched earlier this year concluded it did not have jurisdiction to pursue charges. Lawyer Emma Norton of the Centre for Military Justice said the apparent “jurisdictional gap” could affect other victims linked to overseas military schools.