The Senate passed a spending bill this week that would require all women to register for the draft. However, it blocked an important amendment that would take a vital step in ensuring those that assault service members would be held responsible. It is still incredible to me that the Senate refuses to act on the bill that would take sexual assault cases out of the military’s hands. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), the sponsor of the amendment, has even made changes to her amendment that would make the changes the military sees less drastic. However, it will still help women that are sexually assaulted in the military.
It is important to know the background of this bill before being quick to judge it. Many critics of the bill claim that the military has a unique atmosphere and this bill would upset the way the military discipline works. However, with 20 percent of active duty female soldiers being sexually assaulted something needs to be done to ensure that perpetrators are being held accountable.
One thing that drives sexual assault in the military is the rape culture that exists. Sexual assault is seen as an occupational hazard of military service and the patriarchal environment creates a hostile environment for women. "The Invisible War," a documentary on military sexual assault, tells the stories of women who were assaulted during active duty. In most cases, the women's perpetrators received a light punishment or were not punished at all. In one case, the sexual assault survivor was actually the one punished.
Senator Gillibrand has been trying for three years to see change in the way that sexual assault cases are handled. The first year her reform lost by five votes, the second year by 10 votes, and then this year the amendment didn't recieve a vote. This particular amendment would have taken sexual assault cases out of the chain of command and in the hands of military lawyers. This still puts the cases within the military’s control, but in the more formal proceedings of the military justice system. Gillibrand has been willing to compromise on the amendment she proposes as long as it helps ensure that assailants are being held accountable. Gillibrand continues to push for change and has said she would consider change in the form of an executive order.
With women being drafted on the table it is clear that Congress needs to take a stand against sexual assault in the military. While many of those who serve are not guilty of sexual assault change needs to happen. Justice is need for the survivors of sexual assault who have given so much by serving our country.
