Members of the U.S. military who report sexual violence are far more likely to suffer retaliation than the perpetrator is to receive any punishment, according to a new report by Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Protect Our Defenders. The U.S. Department of Defense has found that sixty-two percent of military personnel who report sexual assaults experience some form of retaliation, which the HRW report describes as harassment, demotion, threats and “disciplinary action including discharge, and even criminal charges.” The report’s authors urged the U.S. military to protect sexual assault victims from retaliation and ensure survivors receive proper medical and psychological support.
Compiled from: U.S.: Military Whistleblowers at Risk, Human Rights Watch (May 18, 2015).