Ms. Foundation: Voices From the Field
Posted by Danielle in 
One of SWAN’s funders, the Ms. Foundation, recently released a video profiling one woman veteran’s experience of sexual violence in the military. Thanks to the Ms. Foundation for their support and great work!
On Women’s Rights: Gadhafi and U.S. Military Have More in Common
By ANNE M. COUGHLIN, KYLE MALLINAK
Reprinted from the Richmond Times-Dispatch
When Iman al-Obaidi burst into the Tripoli hotel where the Western media was headquartered and recounted details of her detention and rape by Libyan militiamen, the world was given yet more powerful evidence of the Gadhafi regime’s contempt for human rights, particularly for the rights of women.
Libyan authorities have tried to discredit al-Obaidi’s allegations by calling her a “known prostitute and thief,” and an official Libyan spokesman has announced that the militiamen she accused are planning to sue her for slander for telling her story to a broader audience. Al-Obaidi herself was forcibly dragged away and detained a second time by Libyan security forces, and it appears that only the widespread media coverage of her plight prevented her from permanently disappearing along with other Gadhafi victims. While this incident has brought increased attention to the harms suffered by women living in totalitarian regimes like Libya, what the American public does not know is that the U.S. military units currently bombing Gadhafi’s forces often treat women with the same contempt as their enemies.
This year, 17 plaintiffs have filed a lawsuit in federal court in Virginia against the secretary of defense for a systemic failure to protect servicewomen and servicemen against commanders who tolerate rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment within their ranks. Fifteen of the plaintiffs are women and two are men. Some are veterans, some are still on active duty, and all served their country in a time of war.
Rep. Speier Delivers Second Speech on Sexual Assault in the Military
Keeping her promise to continue speaking out about sexual assault in the military, Representative Speier delivered a second speech on the House floor addressing the problem. Watch her powerful words here.
Introduction of the Defense STRONG Act to Combat Sexual Assault in the Military
On Wednesday April 13th at 11:00 am (EST) Rep. Mike Turner (OH-3) and Rep. Niki Tsongas (MA-5), along with SWAN’s Executive Director Anu Bhagwati, will hold a media availability to discuss the introduction of the Defense Sexual Trauma Response, Oversight and Good Governance Act (The Defense STRONG Act). This bipartisan legislation seeks to expand legal rights and protections for service members who have been the victims of sexual assault.
Stay tuned to SWAN to hear more about this announcement and read the media advisory here.
Military Sexual Assault Not an “After School Special” Issue
Servicemember-on-servicemember sexual assault is becoming an increasingly public problem for the Department of Defense, and as more light is shed onto this once-taboo topic, the inadequacies of military leaders’ responses to this visceral problem are coming into sharper focus.
Every year I try to make it to the Army Soldier Show. Surprisingly, many people who have served in the Army have not even heard of this great touring event, and there really is not a comparable institution in the other service branches. But for those who know the Soldier Show, you know it’s a great experience with some of the Army’s finest talent singing chart-topping hits from the past year – often better than the original artists.
Rep. Speier Condemns Sexual Assault in the Military
Rep. Jackie Speier takes the lead and unflinchingly confronts the military sexual assault “abomination” on the House floor. Watch her speech here.
National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month
April is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM) and this year’s theme is “It’s time … to get involved.” It is no longer enough to be aware that sexual violence is a problem – we must be actively working towards preventing violence, supporting survivors, and holding perpetrators accountable.
This morning President Obama issued a proclamation stating that:
We must ensure our police, prosecutors, and courts treat victims with the seriousness and respect they need and deserve. We must do more to provide services that help victims recover from the trauma of sexual assault. And ultimately, we must prevent sexual assault before it happens.