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UK navy probes claims of sexual harassment on submarines

The head of the British Royal Navy has announced a probe after several whistle-blowers made allegations of widespread sexual harassment of female staff on submarines.
The Daily Mail on Saturday published a story based on an interview with Sophie Brook, a former naval lieutenant, who described a "constant campaign of sexual bullying" including male crew members putting the names of female colleagues on a "rape list".
The article also quoted two unnamed whistle-blowers who backed her account.
First Sea Lord Ben Key, the professional head of the navy, said in a statement to the newspaper that he had called for an investigation to be carried out by his senior team and was "deeply disturbed" by the "abhorrent" allegations.
"Sexual assault and harassment has no place in the Royal Navy and will not be tolerated," Key said, and anyone found culpable would "be held accountable" regardless of rank.

Brook, 30, had been tipped to become a submarine commander but became suicidal and self-harmed as a result of the culture on board and was ultimately dismissed by the navy.
The Royal Navy's submarine service only began admitting women in 2011.
Male superiors would routinely address her using a sexual obscenity and put their penises in her pocket, Brook said.
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She learnt she was number six on a list of which female crew members would be raped first in the event of a catastrophe.
A married colleague exposed himself to her and another climbed into her bed when she was asleep and started kissing her, she said.
One woman who formally complained about naked pictures of women on display in a working area was "frozen out" and unable to advance, Brook said.
She began self-harming at 21, two years after joining the navy.
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After needing stitches for one injury, the doctor asked for her to be taken off duties, but she was put on watch immediately afterwards with "total responsibility" for the nuclear submarine, she said.
Emma Norton, director of the Centre for Military Justice, a charity that gives legal aid to victims of harassment, told Sky News that only around 10 percent of women who experience serious bullying and harassment in the service make a formal complaint because "they have no faith that they'll get any kind of justice or a fair hearing".
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Norton said the Royal Navy had failed to act on repeated recommendations for greater independent oversight into such complaints.
A retired navy rear admiral, Chris Parry, told the BBC: "Some of the sexualised behaviour that we see in the normal working place is transferred to submarines, as you would expect".
Source: anews
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Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
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Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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