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Wed 29 Aug, 2012 11:00 am
Why Pentagon's progress against sexual assault is so slow
The military legal system is seen as often punishing victims of sexual assault instead of perpetrators. Pentagon efforts to make headway depend largely on improving prosecutions.
Quote:It points to a military legal system that, despite years of scrutiny and efforts to improve, remains skeptical of victims of sexual assault and reluctant to bring offenders to justice, critics say.
The most effective way to decrease rates of rape would be to increase rates of prosecution for perpetrators, said troops in a 2011 Air Force survey, the Pentagon's most comprehensive sexual-assault survey to date.
But data show that while 40 percent of civilian sexual-assault allegations are prosecuted, "this number is a staggeringly low 8 percent in the military," according to a statement from Reps. Niki Tsongas (D) of Massachusetts and Michael Turner (R) of Ohio.
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Military/2012/0829/Why-Pentagon-s-progress-against-sexual-assault-is-so-slow
I'm waiting for the recently released documentary on the relevant subject to come to DVD:
The Invisible War (2012)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2120152/
Though I'm disheartened by it's relatively low IMDb ratings score of 6.3/10 at 306 votes. It did get a 100% rating at Rottentomatoes.com with a slightly modest 14 reviews.
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_invisible_war/
This continuing trend will unfortunately give tremendous pride to the rape deniers/rape apologist (?). 
What can we do in order to get the military to reform its practice of ignoring rape claims and to increase the criminal prosecutions of those responsible for these heinous crimes against our very patriotic women in the military.
I for one have always been a supporter of having women in the military especially the combat forces. This institutional culture of omission/negligence/injustice is making me sick to my stomach.
If I could indulge you to write your US Senator and/or our president then I and many thousands of women in uniform will be very grateful..
http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/general/one_item_and_teasers/contacting.htm
http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact
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