The Department of Defense is committed to the prevention of sexual assault. The Department has implemented a comprehensive policy to ensure the safety, dignity and well being of all members of the Armed Forces. Our men and women serving throughout the world deserve nothing less, and their leaders - both Military and civilian - are committed to maintaining a workplace environment that rejects sexual assault and reinforces a culture of prevention, response and accountability.Now read this statistic...it's the shame of our nation's military:
In FY2010, there were 3,158 total reports of sexual assault in the military. The DOD estimates that this number only represents 13.5% of total assaults in 2010, making the total number of military rapes and sexual assaults in excess of 19,000 for FY 2010.That information comes from SAPRO's 622-page report, Department of Defense Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military. The reaction from Service Women's Action Network (SWAN):
The numbers indicate that cases of rape and sexual assault have not decreased, and that the military is no closer to ending this crisis in the ranks.Why has this been allowed to go on? It's safe to say that this unit dedicated to training personnel to reduce sexual assault isn't making any headway in the culture of the military with those figures emerging. FYI, here is a video from the SAPRO site featuring Admiral Mike Mullen, reminding service members "that it is up to all military personnel to prevent sexual assault.""This latest report clearly shows that the military's response to rape and sexual assault within its own ranks has been both inadequate and ineffective," said Anu Bhagwati, former Marine Corps captain and executive director of the Service Women's Action Network. "This crime continues to see massive amounts of underreporting because victims do not feel the climate is safe to report, and perpetrators are not being brought to trial in sufficient numbers."
The SAPRO Annual Report shows that of the 3,158 reports made in FY2010, only 529 went to trial.
"For decades the DOD has not demonstrated the leadership needed to bring their own troops in line with their stated goals and policies on sexual assault and sexual harassment," said Bhagwati. "Immediate legislative action by our elected officials is the best tool we have to stop this crisis right now. The military's continuing efforts are just reinforcing failure."
Along with the Annual Report, the DOD also released its 2010 Workplace and Gender Relations Survey of Active Duty Members, which surveys service members every two years about sexual assault and sexual harassment in the workplace. This report indicates that the military's climate of fear and intimidation around sexual assault reporting still exists. The survey reveals that 67% of women are "uncomfortable" with reporting, 54% "fear reprisal", and 46% of both men and women in the military believe that sexual assault was "not important enough" to report at all.
There is another video on SAPRO's site that discusses how males are also "vulnerable to sexual violence, and the unique factors of male victimization."