Independent Review Commission Recommendations on Countering Sexual Assault in the US Military

Forward Assist were delighted to give evidence to the US Independent Review Commission (IRC) on Sexual Assault in the Military. As the leading charity in the UK delivering and developing trauma informed interventions for serving personel and veterans with lived experience of Military Sexual Trauma we were delighted to update the panel on the lack of services for UK victims and survivors.

The IRC made 82 recommendations in four priority areas: accountability; prevention; climate and culture; and victim care and support. Key themes of the report recognized both strengths and areas for improvement; recognizing dedicated leaders and a desire to engage; and emphasizing the need to promote climates of dignity and respect, investing in knowledgeable sexual assault responders and the strong need for proper resources and training.

The commission was led by Lynn Rosenthal and twelve highly qualified experts in the areas reviewed. The team met with more than 600 people including military leadership, service members and sexual assault survivors.

You can read the full report here: IRC-FULL-REPORT-FINAL-1923-7-1-21.PDF (defense.gov)

The UK Government/MOD Should Recognise Military Sexual Trauma (MST)

We are campaigning for change. The Government and Ministry of Defence do not currently recognise the term ‘Military Sexual Trauma’ (MST) and as a result there are no ‘gender specific’ trauma informed services specialising in MST. The negative impact of such experiences can be devastating and last a life time without timely specialist support during and after service.

In response, we have lodged a Parliamentary Petition with the UK Government and it has now gone live. You can sign the Petition here:

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/566588

“We call on the Government to take responsibility and action to provide 'gender specific' trauma informed, confidential and independent specialist interventions/support for survivors of MST. The UK Government & (Ministry of Defence) should, like our international partners adopt the term Military Sexual Trauma (MST) as a stand-alone and recognisable enduring traumatic experience that affects men but disproportionately women service personnel, during and after military service”.

Forward Assist are actively campaigning for equitable mental health support services & post service employment opportunities for women. https://www.forward-assist.com/salute-her”

Forward Assist recognise that women veterans are a hidden, marginalised, frequently ignored & forgotten population. We have been actively campaigning for equitable mental health support services for those traumatised by war, sexual assault and harassment.