Psychologists in touch with Antarctic base after assault allegation, South Africa confirms | Antarctica
A government minister said that psychologists are in “continuous” contact with the isolated South African science team to isolate at a base in the Antarctica after physical assault and sexual harassment, a government minister said.
The Minister of the Environment, George’s debt, who runs his department for the Antarctic Program in the country, told the Guardian that psychologists and other experts were in “direct and continuous” communication with the research team consisting of nine members.
The remote Sanae IV research station, located near the edge of the abyss, operates throughout the year by researchers. The current Overwintering team is scheduled to be exempted until December, after the winter ice storms in the southern hemisphere.
The risk of life was revealed in places close to the base of three marks, more than 2600 miles south of Cape Town, at the end of last week with the deployment of an email sent by a researcher Male colleague accused From physical assault and a death threat.
The person who made these allegations said that they are afraid of their safety and colleagues, demanding “immediate work”, according to South Africa. Sunday Times A newspaper, which published the email but removed the names.
Unfortunately, [his] The behavior escalated to a very annoying point. Specifically, my physically assaulted [name withheld]It is a serious violation of personal safety and the rules of the workplace. “
Moreover, he threatened to death [name withheld]Create an environment of fear and intimidation. I am still worried about my own safety, and I constantly wonder if you have become the next victim. “
The letter said that “many fears” have arisen about the alleged striker.
George said that the prosecution related to “a dispute over the task of the team captain wanted the team-a task that depends on the weather requires changing the table.” The Overwintering team usually includes scientists, engineers and medical doctor.
In another statement, the South Africa Forestry and Fisheries and Environment Fisheries said it was also investigating a demand for sexual harassment.
He added that none of the alleged incidents “requires any of the nine team members of the Overwintering team to return to Cape Town”, but “immediately activated the response plan to involve individuals involved through professionals trained to mediate relations at Al Qaeda.”
The administration said that the alleged perpetrator “participated in Tayeb Khater in more psychological evaluation” and showed remorse, including by writing an official apology to the victim.
South Africa established for the first time a scientific station in Antarctica In 1960, researchers at the base – which are reached during the summer months by the supply ship and polar research that divide the ice – experiments including the study of electromagnetic waves of the Earth.
