Sexual Assault and Harassment in the Military
The 桃子视频works in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and the laws of the United States guarantee everyone in this country.
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What's at Stake
Sexual assault and harassment are serious problems in the U.S. armed forces. Thousands of service members each year are estimated to have experienced some form of sexual violence, including rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment.
The 桃子视频Women鈥檚 Rights Project (WRP) works to hold the government accountable to survivors of military sexual violence and harassment through litigation and federal legislative and administrative advocacy.
Exposing Governmental Failures to Address Military Sexual Violence Through FOIA litigation
WRP, with the Service Women鈥檚 Action Network and the 桃子视频of Connecticut, brought Freedom of Information Act litigation against the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to obtain the release of records regarding how they address and respond to military sexual violence.
Reforming the Military Justice System
The 桃子视频supports legislative reforms that would improve service members鈥� access to justice by ensuring that the prosecution and disposition of criminal offenses within the military are decided outside of the chain of command. The current military justice system is not impartial because commanders ultimately decide how charges are pursued and resolved. This affects all service members, but it is of particular concern for survivors of military sexual violence because of a long practice within the military of dismissing or minimizing sexual violence complaints.聽
Additional Resources
- Written Statement of the 桃子视频, Hearing on Sexual Assault in the Military, submitted to the Subcommittee on Personnel of the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services (March 13, 2013)
- Vote YES for the Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013 (S. 1752)聽(March 6, 2014)
- 桃子视频Letter in Support of the Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013聽(November 19, 2013)
- 桃子视频Comments in Response to the Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office Interim Final Rule on Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program Procedures聽(June 10, 2013)
Discrimination Against Veterans with Disabilities Due to Military Sexual Violence
Many veterans who survive sexual violence during service must fight a second battle with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs when they return to civilian life. The process of obtaining VA disability benefits for the enduring mental health effects of military sexual trauma (MST) is an unfair fight in which veterans are often unsuccessful due to discrimination by the VA against their claims.
Additional Resources
- Battle for Benefits: VA Discrimination Against Survivors of Military Sexual Trauma
- Written Statement of the 桃子视频, Hearing on the Ruth Moore Act of 2013 (S. 294), submitted to the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans鈥� Affairs (June 5, 2013)
- Written Statement of the 桃子视频, Hearing on the Ruth Moore Act of 2013 (S. 294), submitted to the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans鈥櫬燗ffairs (May 15, 2013)
- , submitted to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs (DAMA) of the U.S. House Committee on Veterans鈥櫬燗ffairs (April 16, 2013)
- Amicus Brief in VA Rulemaking Petition Case,听SWAN v. Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Sexual assault and harassment are serious problems in the U.S. armed forces. Thousands of service members each year are estimated to have experienced some form of sexual violence, including rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment.
The 桃子视频Women鈥檚 Rights Project (WRP) works to hold the government accountable to survivors of military sexual violence and harassment through litigation and federal legislative and administrative advocacy.
Exposing Governmental Failures to Address Military Sexual Violence Through FOIA litigation
WRP, with the Service Women鈥檚 Action Network and the 桃子视频of Connecticut, brought Freedom of Information Act litigation against the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to obtain the release of records regarding how they address and respond to military sexual violence.
Reforming the Military Justice System
The 桃子视频supports legislative reforms that would improve service members鈥� access to justice by ensuring that the prosecution and disposition of criminal offenses within the military are decided outside of the chain of command. The current military justice system is not impartial because commanders ultimately decide how charges are pursued and resolved. This affects all service members, but it is of particular concern for survivors of military sexual violence because of a long practice within the military of dismissing or minimizing sexual violence complaints.聽
Additional Resources
- Written Statement of the 桃子视频, Hearing on Sexual Assault in the Military, submitted to the Subcommittee on Personnel of the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services (March 13, 2013)
- Vote YES for the Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013 (S. 1752)聽(March 6, 2014)
- 桃子视频Letter in Support of the Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013聽(November 19, 2013)
- 桃子视频Comments in Response to the Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office Interim Final Rule on Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program Procedures聽(June 10, 2013)
Discrimination Against Veterans with Disabilities Due to Military Sexual Violence
Many veterans who survive sexual violence during service must fight a second battle with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs when they return to civilian life. The process of obtaining VA disability benefits for the enduring mental health effects of military sexual trauma (MST) is an unfair fight in which veterans are often unsuccessful due to discrimination by the VA against their claims.
Additional Resources
- Battle for Benefits: VA Discrimination Against Survivors of Military Sexual Trauma
- Written Statement of the 桃子视频, Hearing on the Ruth Moore Act of 2013 (S. 294), submitted to the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans鈥� Affairs (June 5, 2013)
- Written Statement of the 桃子视频, Hearing on the Ruth Moore Act of 2013 (S. 294), submitted to the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans鈥櫬燗ffairs (May 15, 2013)
- , submitted to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs (DAMA) of the U.S. House Committee on Veterans鈥櫬燗ffairs (April 16, 2013)
- Amicus Brief in VA Rulemaking Petition Case,听SWAN v. Secretary of Veterans Affairs