Jurisdiction over sexual misconduct cases is to be permanently transferred to the civilian justice system.

As Defence Minister Anita Anand was giving that directive, military police said they’re facing challenges transferring such cases to civilian counterparts.

”Culture change will not happen overnight, and that it cannot happen from the top down,” says Anand.

”It will only succeed if it is a team effort, and it will continue to require the involvement and the commitment of every DND (Department of National Defence) employee,” she adds.

Anand says the government is accepting all 48 recommendations from retired Supreme Court justice Louise Arbour’s report released earlier in the year.

The Ministry of Defence is moving to implement 17 of those in the near future, with the rest, according to Anand, to take place in the coming months.