Inspector General Robert P. Storch announced today that the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General released DoD OIG Report No. DODIG-2024-052, “Evaluation of the DoD’s Implementation of the NATO Policy on Preventing and Responding to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse” The report highlights the extent to which the DoD and the Services implemented the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Policy on Preventing and Responding to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) for U.S. Service members and DoD personnel serving in NATO-led organizations.
The SEA Policy is an agreement among all NATO member countries that outlines the procedures for preventing and responding to SEA. Additionally, the policy prohibits all personnel from engaging in, or facilitating, any form of SEA.
The report details that while the DoD has guidance related to sexual assault and sexual exploitation, the DoD cannot demonstrate whether it monitors compliance with the SEA Policy for DoD personnel assigned to NATO-led organizations.
IG Storch stated, "The issues identified in our report may result in a lack of trust within the DoD, discourage victims from reporting sexual exploitation and abuse, and potentially even put local civilians, military members, and other NATO personnel at a safety risk should conduct covered by the SEA Policy go unreported."