The number of officially reported sexual assaults in the US military has risen to an all-time high. According to a Defense Ministry report published Thursday (local time), 8,866 cases involving military personnel as “victims or perpetrators” have been recorded within a year. This is an increase of 13 percent. However, only part of the attacks are reported to the authorities.
The annual report comes from the Defense Prevention Department. Based on troop surveys, it is estimated that nearly 36,000 active maids and men experienced unwanted sexual contact during the year.
“Figures are tragic and extremely disappointing”
Casualties are therefore 8.4 percent of women and 1.5 percent of men in the US military. “These numbers are tragic and deeply disappointing,” said Elizabeth Foster, director of military welfare at the Department of Defense.
The Pentagon emphasized that given a changed research method, it “couldn’t say exactly scientifically whether there was an actual increase”. However, other data also point to an increase and suggest an increase in the “unhealthy military climate” since 2018.
In the fight against sexual violence in the US military, US President Joe Biden tightened criminal law in January: the decree states that sexual violence, domestic violence and violence against minors by military personnel must be heard before a court martial and the decision on criminal charges against the perpetrators are left to specialized prosecutors and no longer to the military.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
