Newswire

Military Is No Place For Women

Military Is No Place For Women

And Men In The Military Have Lost All Sense Of Chivalry

Over 500 Reports of Sexual Assault
among U.S. Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan

By Tom Shine and Maddy Sauer / ABC News

Over 500 cases of sexual assault have been reported among U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan since the summer of 2002, according to the executive director of the Miles Foundation, a nonprofit group that tracks sexual crimes in the military.

"The combat theater is illustrative of the hostility towards women in the U.S. Armed Forces," according to Christine Hansen, the executive director of the foundation. Hansen is testifying before the House Government Reform Committee.

Hansen notes that survivors of sexual assault in the combat theater point to many issues that contribute to the hostile environment there for women in the military, including "lack of privacy to perform daily routines; insufficient lighting in and around the tents; isolation; existence of a sexually charged atmosphere; presence of pornography; and availability of condoms for male troops."

Hansen also points out that the wide availability of alcohol has not helped. Alcohol has been involved in 70 to 75 percent of the reported cases.

Services and advocate programs for the victims of sexual violence are also not getting the resources they need to operate effectively, says Hansen.

"Victim advocates, dedicated to protecting victims' rights, have been denied resources, forced off the base and unfairly dismissed," according to Hansen. She adds that victims are not entitled to the same protections as civilians and that they are unable to seek confidential counseling without the fear that counselors may be forced to turn over their records.

Sexual violence within the military has led to scandalous headlines, and the Department of Defense has attempted to address the issue via task forces, panels and more. Today's hearing focuses on whether or not the Department of Defense has addressed recommendations made by the Defense Task Force on Sexual Harassment and Violence at the military service academies.


http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/06/over_500_report.html

Posted by Editor at July 6, 2006 06:53 AM