Reports of sexual assaults in US military drop for first time in nearly a decade
CNN
Reports of sexual assaults in the US military dropped for the first time in nearly a decade, according to a new Pentagon report released on Thursday, breaking what had been an upward trend in recent years.
Reports of sexual assaults in the US military dropped for the first time in nearly a decade, according to a new Pentagon report released on Thursday, breaking what had been an upward trend in recent years. A confidential survey also found the number of service members who experienced some type of unwanted sexual contact dropped nearly 20%, a reduction which left the Pentagon “cautiously optimistic” that its efforts to target sexual assault and harassment are beginning to show results. 7,266 service members reported a sexual assault in 2023, a decrease from 7,378 the previous year. Although the change is small, it is the first time the Defense Department has seen a decrease in the number of reports since 2015. Meanwhile, an estimated 29,061 service members experienced some type of unwanted sexual contact, a dramatic decrease from an estimated 35,875 in 2021. These estimates come from a confidential survey conducted every two years to understand the wider prevalence of sexual harassment and sexual assault in the military. The decrease in the estimated prevalence of unwanted sexual contact was seen across all military services to varying degrees. The Pentagon acknowledged it is not completely clear why the numbers decreased. “While it’s impossible for us to know exactly why we’re seeing this decrease in sexual assault prevalence, we are cautiously optimistic that the department’s unprecedented investment is having an impact, particularly when it comes to our focus on prevention and building healthy climate,” said Beth Foster, executive director of the Pentagon’s Office of Force Resiliency.
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