Sexual misconduct

CAF members, DND public service employees, former CAF members/veterans

A trained SMSRC counsellor will answer, listen, discuss the resources best suited to your needs, and guide you with the next steps.

• The DND’s Get help following an incident of sexual misconduct page provides guidance and tips on self-care following an incident and information on how to file a formal complaint.
• Use the resources search tool to find CAF, provincial, and community-based support in your area.
• For guidance on how to respond when someone tells you they have experienced sexual misconduct and information on how to increase the safety of the affected person, consult the DND’s Support someone affected by sexual misconduct page.

Many of those resources are also available in the "Respect in the CAF" app. You can download the app on the CAF mobile apps page.

SNPF CF employees

The Employee and Family Assistance Program is a free, confidential and voluntary support service available to you. It provides independent, expert assistance and counselling that can help you, or a member of your family, take the first step towards resolving an issue. The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for immediate, confidential help.

The Centre for Conflict Resolution and Ethics is the resource for the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS) workplace conflict resolution. They provide those services to all CFMWS employees and managers. 

On 11 May 2023, the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces announced the launch of their Independent Legal Assistance (ILA) Program. This program is intended for individuals who have experienced sexual misconduct. The ILA’s first phase reimburses individuals for eligible legal expenses incurred on or after 1 April 2019 due to experiencing one or more incident of sexual misconduct.

The DND’s Support someone affected by sexual misconduct page has guidance on how to respond when someone tells you they have experienced sexual misconduct, information on how to increase the safety of the affected person, and self-care guidance for individuals who have experienced sexual misconduct.

Leaders, executives or managers of DND Public Service employees and CAF members

If you are assisting someone who has experienced sexual misconduct, you have received a disclosure of sexual misconduct, or think an incident has occurred, consult the DND’s Support someone affected by sexual misconduct page.

Access the Get support—CAF leaders, DND executives and managers page to speak with a SMSRC counsellor. Call for confidential support, guidance and information on:

• receiving disclosures of sexual misconduct,
• supporting directly affected individuals,
• supporting other affected individuals such as alleged perpetrators, bystanders and witnesses,
• reporting sexual misconduct, and
• recognizing sexual misconduct.

The Sexual misconduct page provides information on:

• taking action following an incident,
• how and where to access resources and support, and
• downloadable tools and educational

SNPF CF  managers

The Employee and Family Assistance Program is a free, confidential and voluntary support service available to you. It provides independent, expert assistance and counselling that can help you, or a member of your family, take the first step towards resolving an issue. The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for immediate, confidential help.

The Centre for Conflict Resolution and Ethics is the primary resource for the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS) workplace conflict resolution. They are responsible for providing those services to all CFMWS civilian employees and managers. 

If you are assisting someone who has experienced sexual misconduct or you have received a disclosure of sexual misconduct, you can also get support, information and guidance from the DND SMSRC.

For guidance on how to respond when someone tells you they have experienced sexual misconduct and how to increase the safety of the affected person, consult the DND’s Support someone affected by sexual misconduct page.

Find information on recognizing and preventing sexual misconduct on the Support someone affected by sexual misconduct page.

The Training and Educational materials page provides information on sexual misconduct, understanding consent, six steps to bystander action, intervention strategies, recognizing and responding to domestic violence, and information on how to increase the safety of the affected person.

CAF members

The Defence Administrative Orders and Directives (DOAD) 9005-1 - Sexual Misconduct Response applies to officers and non-commissioned members of the CAF. It includes the definitions of “sexual misconduct” and “workplace” and also interprets wording used in policies such as “consent” and “sexual assault”.

DND employees

Find information on workplace harassment and violence prevention regulations involving Defence Team public service employees. The Government of Canada’s web page on provides tools and guides, frequently asked questions and links to information specific to DND public service employees.

SNPF CF employees

Find guidelines and the approach to prevent harassment and violence in the workplace in the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services’ Staff of the Non-Public Funds’ Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention Policy.

Consult the CAF Chief, Professional Conduct and Culture website for information regarding the DND and the CAF’s efforts to address all forms of systemic misconduct and to advance positive culture change for Canada’s Defence Team.

You can also find information in the Respect section in the CAF app. Download the app on the CAF mobile apps page.