STATEMENT: Protect Our Defenders Calls on President Obama to Address Epidemic of Sexual Assault in the Military Now
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2013
Contact: Brian Purchia, brian@protectourdefenders.com
*** STATEMENT ***
PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS CALLS ON PRESIDENT OBAMA TO ADDRESS EPIDEMIC OF SEXUAL ASSAULT IN THE MILITARY NOW
Washington DC – Today, President Obama announced a review of the military’s response to sexual assault and that he will give the reforms passed by Congress a year.
Protect Our Defenders President Nancy Parrish released the following statement:
“Countless scandals, investigative reports and the Pentagon’s own data have highlighted the core problem fueling the crisis. Unfortunately, instead of listening to active duty service members and our veterans who were sexually assaulted and then subjected to retaliation by their chain of command – President Obama has decided to stand with the status quo and the hollow Pentagon promises of ‘zero tolerance’ for at least another year. Our men and women in uniform and their families deserve real solutions not arbitrary delays.
“The Senate has a common sense, bipartisan effort that allows military prosecutors to decide whether to go to trial. This approach is supported by a majority of Senators and 6 out of 10 Americans. It would be the critical step in the creation of an independent and impartial justice system. The legislation will protect victims of sexual assault in our military and make our armed forces stronger. Our men and women in uniform deserve a vote on the Military Justice Improvement Act.”
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NBC News: Obama sets one-year timeline for military sexual assault reforms
http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/12/20/21984349-obama-sets-one-year-timeline-for-military-sexual-assault-reforms?lite
Huffington Post: Obama Orders Military To Review Sexual Assault
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/20/obama-military-sexual-assault_n_4479880.html
Baltimore Sun Military sex assault critics want justice overhaul
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-military-sexual-assault-chain-of-command-20131219,0,917232.story
Stars and Stripes: Air Force removes Lt. Gen. Franklin from sexual assault case
http://www.stripes.com/news/air-force-removes-lt-gen-franklin-from-sexual-assault-case-1.258268
RH Reality Check: Military Sexual Assault Case to Be Retried After Controversial General Threw It Out
http://rhrealitycheck.org/article/2013/12/19/military-sexual-assault-case-to-be-retried-after-controversial-general-threw-it-out/
About Protect Our Defenders: Protect Our Defenders is a human rights organization. We seek to honor, support and give voice to the brave women and men in uniform who have been sexually assaulted while serving their country, and re-victimized by the military adjudication system – a system that often blames the victim and fails to prosecute the perpetrator. Learn more about Protect Our Defenders at www.protectourdefenders.com or on Facebook at http://facebook.com/
Protect Our Defenders partners with Attorney Susan Burke, Burke PLLC to advance lawsuits filed against the DoD and service academies for repeatedly ignoring rape, sexual assault and harassment, failing to prosecute perpetrators and retaliating against the victim.
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