STATEMENT: Protect Our Defenders Responds to DoD Panel Recommendations
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 30, 2014 Contact: Brian Purchia, brian@protectourdefenders.com
*** STATEMENT ***
PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS RESPONDS TO DOD PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS
Washington DC – Today, the DoD Response Panel to Adult Sexual Crimes concluded deliberations on their third and final subcommittee report.
Protect Our Defenders President, Nancy Parrish, released the following statement:
“We are disheartened—though not surprised—to see that all of the evidence pointing to the need for fundamental reform has been disregarded in favor of Pentagon policies that perpetuate a biased and unjust system.
“From the outset this Pentagon-backed panel has defended the status quo. While the original purpose of the panel was to evaluate victim experience and improve DoD response to sexual crimes, it has instead become a tool to further delay needed reform.
“Instead of taking meaningful steps to address a problem that has been studied and debated for decades, the Pentagon has continued to refer these critical matters to studies and committees—kicking the can down the road. A perfect example of this strategy is demonstrated by DoD’s recent announcement of yet another panel, the Military Justice Review Group (MJRG), also established by the Pentagon to review the military justice system.
“The time for more reports and studies has passed — the time for action is long overdue. It is unconscionable that our troops, the men and women who have signed up to fight and die for our freedoms, continue to be denied a fair and impartial justice system. We will continue to fight to rectify this grave injustice to our service members by pressing to take authority to handle these cases away from the conflicted and often biased commander of the accused. The responsibility must be given to independent professional, military prosecutors.”
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Washington Post: Alleged sex assaults by drill sergeant the latest in a long line during military training
Stars and Stripes: In survey, Lackland drill instructors rip leaders, say they fear recruits
Bangor Daily News: Milbridge military sex assault survivor to receive more than $400,000 in back benefits
Navy Times: Panel: Commanders should retain authority in sex assault cases
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/ProtectOurDefenders or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ProtectRDfnders.
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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