MintPress News: Congress Still Dragging Its Feet On Military Sexual Assault Reform
Protect Our Defenders Policy Advisor and Program Director is featured in this MintPress News article:
Matthews says you also have to consider the career ambitions of the commander. According to Miranda Peterson, policy advisor and program director with Protect Our Defenders, a grassroots nonprofit seeking reform in the military for sexual assault: “Commanders are responsible for everything that happens in their unit during their watch — including creating a climate where sexual harassment and assault are unacceptable, intolerable and simply do not occur. If a rape or sexual assault does occur under their command, it reflects poorly on their leadership. They are judged to have failed to maintain a proper command climate with good order and discipline. For that reason, commanders have a strong incentive to not believe the victim or to not report a crime that occurs in their unit. It is simpler to decide that the ‘victim’ is not really a victim.”
