US MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT REPORTS INCREASE BY MORE THAN 50 PERCENT

        Washington, 25 Shafar 1435/28 December 2013 (MINA) – A new report says  on Friday that the number of reported sexual assaults in the US military increased by more than 50 percent in 2013.

        There were more than 5,000 reports of sexual assault filed during the fiscal year that ended on Sept. 30 in comparison with 3,374 in 2012, reported on Friday.

        About 10 percent of the reports in 2013 occurred before the victim got into the military, up from just 4 percent only a year ago.

        US officials said the increase suggests that victims are more willing to talk about the widespread issue, Press TV reporter as quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).

        Col. Alan R. Metzler, deputy director of the Pentagon’s sexual assault prevention and response office, said more victims are agreeing to make official complaints, rather than simply seeking medical care without filing formal accusations.

        Director of the Navy’s sexual assault program, Jill Loftus said the increase also suggests that more service members are starting to understand what types of behavior constitute harassment or assault.

          The increase in reports across the services ranges from about 45 percent for the Air Force to 86 percent for the Marines. The Navy had an increase of 46 percent and the Army, by far the largest military service, had a 50 percent jump, according to the figures.

          In December, legislation approved by Congress urged the Pentagon to change how it deals with the issue after criticisms that victims fear they will not be taken seriously.

          The US Defense Department estimated that reported cases of sexual abuse in the military increased nearly 40 percent last year, to about 26,000 cases from 19,000 in 2011.

          The Pentagon report also showed that 62 percent of those who report sexual abuse in the military are faced with some sort of retaliation for reporting their cases.

          On Thursday, President Barack Obama signed a bill into law that would bar military commanders from overturning jury convictions in sexual assault and rape cases. It would also make it a crime to retaliate against people who report rapes and sexual assaults. (T/P04/E1)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)