Sexual violence scandal in Antarctica: Secret survey reveals

A newly released confidential survey by the National Science Foundation (NSF) has revealed that personnel working at research bases in Antarctica face a serious problem of sexual assault and harassment. Open to 2,760 personnel and contractors working in the region between 2022 and 2024, 40% of respondents reported experiencing sexual assault or harassment at least once. Nearly 70% of respondents said they had witnessed it. 60% of women said they were often the victims, while the rate for men, at 36%, was higher than the national average.

Very few incidents are reported

However, very few incidents are officially reported. This is attributed to the fact that most personnel are contracted out to private companies and the lack of a complaint process. The extreme isolation conditions in Antarctica further exacerbate the situation. Victims of abuse are often forced to spend months confined to the same base as their attackers, making it impossible to resolve the incidents.