Upon learning that a number of female members of the military had been sexually assaulted while serving abroad, Senator Collins has worked to bring this issue to light in the Senate Armed Services Committee and has called on DoD officials to take action. Senator Collins also appeared on ABC's "Nightline" on Friday night, following the release of the new report.
"I agree with the emphasis the report placed on demanding a top-down program to address sexual assault in the military, with great responsibility placed at the highest levels of the Department of Defense as well as the lowest levels of command leadership," said Senator Collins. "It is unacceptable that women serving our country in Iraq and Afghanistan have to fear for their safety not only from the enemy, but also from a few of their fellow servicemen."
Senator Collins, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has pressed military leaders about how the military responds to charges of sexual assault among American military units and what it is doing to prevent these crimes. According to the report, the total number of reported alleged sexual assaults involving service member victims was 1007 in 2002 and 1113 in 2003. Sexual assault included rape, forcible sodomy, indecent assault, and any attempts of these offenses. Sexual assault experts believe the number of incidents is far higher because these are underreported crimes.
The investigation found that DoD records on reports of sexual assault are incomplete and not integrated. It concluded that existing policies and programs aimed at preventing sexual assault are inconsistent and incomplete, principally because there is no Defense-wide policy requiring them. The investigation also found that some smaller defense installations, foreign bases, and field divisions did not include resources to provide medical care or counseling to sexual assault victims, a problem that Senator Collins cited as "particularly troubling."
"The military needs to be much more responsive to reports of sexual assault, particularly in the field, and to separate these women and, in some cases, male victims from their alleged attackers. The Department must also vigorously prosecute offenders and hold commanders accountable for establishing a zero-tolerance policy," said Senator Collins.
The report recommended that immediate action include the establishment of an Armed Forces Sexual Assault Advisory Council, composed of key officials from the Pentagon and other federal agencies with recognized expertise in dealing with issues surrounding sexual assault.
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