Dr Solon Solomon submitted evidence to the UK Parliament Defence Committee’s Inquiry into The Armed Forces Covenant, responding to the question of whether the Armed Forces Covenant should be extended. His submission highlights two key areas for reform:
1. Recognising Operational Stress in the Armed Forces Covenant
- Current Issue: The Covenant acknowledges "serious injury" but does not explicitly include mental harm such as operational stress. Existing support programmes focus only on veterans, excluding active-duty soldiers.
- Recommendation: The Covenant should explicitly include mental injuries and extend support to serving personnel. The first paragraph should be amended to state that Armed Forces members may suffer "serious physical or mental injury."
2. Expanding the Covenant’s Scope Beyond Defensive Wars
- Current Issue: The Covenant implies protection only for those serving in defensive wars, potentially excluding personnel involved in UN-mandated missions. It also does not cover foreign nationals who contribute to UK military operations, such as interpreters and local informants.
- Recommendation: The Covenant should cover all UK military operations, regardless of their defensive nature. Additionally, it should extend protection to foreign nationals who have significantly contributed to UK war efforts.
Dr Solomon argues these changes would ensure fair treatment of all service members and align the Covenant with international law principles.
Read the full written evidence submission here