News
British MoD Anti-rape Campaign Launched with Shocking Posters of 'Army Sex Attacks'
Friday, July 24, 2015 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - International
The British Ministry of Defence anti-rape campaign photographs depict men and women who have been raped by soldiers and warn service personnel that consent is always required before they have sex. Posters including the slogan ‘Don’t kid yourself! Without consent it’s RAPE’ will be displayed in army barracks and training centres across the country.
Statement from Paralyzed Veterans of America on the Women Veterans and Families Health Services Act of 2015
Wednesday, July 22, 2015 | Category: Legislation - National
The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs withdrew S. 469, the “Women Veterans and Families Health Services Act of 2015" from legislative markup. The bill "would lift an antiquated ban on VA providing fertility services to veterans who have incurred a severe injury to their reproductive organs." Many female veterans with grievous injuries from explosive devices are unable to conceive a child naturally. Assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) are provided by the Department of Defense. The Paralyzed Veterans of America believes that political ideologies overshadowed "the needs of veterans with catastrophic disabilities, particularly those with spinal cord injury or disease."
Two Former Army Officers Criticize Pentagon's Sexual Assault Strategy and Send President Obama a Proposed Foundation for Vital Transformational Change
Tuesday, July 21, 2015 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - National
Two former Army officers of the Northern Virginia law firm of Jordan Patrick & Cooley LLP urged President Obama via letter to consider their 7-step proposal to strengthen the Pentagon's anti-sexual assault plans. They believe the remedies inclusive of an executive order would promote 'robust relief for women servicemembers that is beyond the control of the conventional command structure and thwarts efforts by commands to cutoff women servicemembers from access to powerful assistance.'
Protect Our Defenders Working to Eliminate Bias in Military Justice
Tuesday, July 7, 2015 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - National
Don Christensen, a retired Air Force Judge Advocate General, now serves as the President of Protect Our Defenders. The group's mission is to end what it calls "the epidemic of military rape." Accusing a fellow service member of sexual assault in the military can hurt the victim career-wise, socially and administratively as current Department of Defense statistics reveal. Two-thirds who report experience retaliation. Mr. Christensen notes that "The odds are astronomically in your favor that if you conduct a sexual assault that you'll never be held responsible."
DoD to Study Link Between Sex Assault Claims, Career Retaliation
Wednesday, July 1, 2015 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - National
The Department of Defense (DOD)Office of Inspector General plans to examine the types of separation servicemembers had after filing sexual assault and rape reports since 2009 and then, determine if they were improperly forced out of the military due to mental health issues. The OIG will then review if those who were separated for non-disability medical conditions, including personality and adjustment disorder, were discharged according to DOD rules.
Serving in Silence: Survey Shows Only One Dishonorable Discharge for Sexual Assault in the National Guard
Tuesday, June 30, 2015 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - National
The NBC investigation team sent a survey to the 50 state Guard units in the nation as well as the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. They received responses from 40 out of 54 units, the first publicly available numbers on what happens to those accused of raping or sexually assaulting their fellow service members. What happens to those accused of rape or sexual assault in the National Guard varies dramatically depending on what state you work in. 28 out of the 40 states who participated in the survey have the ability to conduct a court-martial or the equivalent of a military Article 32 hearing. Only six (Arkansas, California, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina and Wisconsin) have held a court-martial in the last five years to specifically investigate an allegation of sexual assault.
"There Was Beauty & There Was Horror — Both Coexisted"
Tuesday, June 30, 2015 | Category: History/Heritage - National
This powerful expose shares interviews with several women who served in the U.S. military. Most shared one thing in common: "they were proud of their service and the barriers they were able to break down while in uniform."
Military Sexual Assault Reform Stalls Again
Saturday, June 27, 2015 | Category: Sexual Harassment/Assault/Trauma - National
RH Reality Check's Emily Crockett reported that "The U.S. Senate blocked a vote to include the Military Justice Improvement Act (MJIA) as an amendment to the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The amendment failed on a 50-49 vote; it had majority support, but did not get the 60 votes required to overcome a filibuster. Last year, the MJIA fell five votes short of overcoming a filibuster." Reform has been an arduous effort the past few years with staunch opposition despite the Department of Defense's own facts and survivors' testimonies. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, relentlessly pursues the issue understanding that the system wasn't working and still isn’t working now.
Rethinking Prosthetics for Female Veterans
Tuesday, June 16, 2015 | Category: Prosthetics - National
There are many prosthetic designs in the market, but many of them are unisex and cannot always fulfill needs specific to women. Andrea Ippolito (Department of Veterans Affairs fellow), Dara Dotz (works 3-D imaging and STEM), and Heather Irvine (Marketing and Creative Director at the The Ipsos Girls’ Lounge) are teaming up and hope to bring more attention to their cause and help female veterans.
Prosthetics with pizazz for female veterans spotlighted at D.C. festival
Friday, June 12, 2015 | Category: Prosthetics - National
There are women in combat who are coming back injured and a greater percentage, 6 percent, of female service members suffered such injuries in non-battle situations. Female amputees have a very difficult time finding artificial limbs that fit their smaller bodies, including narrower shoulders and wider hips. There are partnerships between industry and the Department of Veterans Affairs focused on manufacturing female-friendly prosthetics that are designed for more healthy living and will help them "step out in style."