Dutch woman demands compensation from British navy for rape

A Dutch woman who worked as a sailor for the navy is going to court in the United Kingdom. She holds the British navy liable for the emotional damage she suffered after being allegedly raped by a British officer.

The woman worked on the mine hunter Willemstad, which was taking part in a NATO mission. During a carnival party for all crew members of the ships involved in the mission, in 2020 in the harbor of Oslo, she was allegedly raped in a broom closet.

The lawyer of the 21-year-old woman, Michael Ruperti, tells Trouw that after two years there is still no shot is in the case† He calls that “a second trauma” for the victim. The woman is going to a British court because she wants compensation. She also wants the British navy to recognize that mistakes have been made in her case.

According to the lawyer, her story shows that female soldiers who are victims of sexual offenses during international missions have a bad legal position.

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