Ex-US marine seeks civil courts for military sex abuse victims
16 March 2013 8:13 AM IST
An Indian-American woman, who faced sexual abuse while serving as a marine, has appealed to the lawmakers to open civil courts for military civilians for ensuring justice to them in cases of sexual harassment in the Army.
Anu Bhagwati, now the executive director and co-founder of the Service Women's Action Network (SWAN), was speaking at a Congressional hearing on Sexual Assault in the Military.
‘During my five years as a Marine officer, I experienced daily discrimination and sexual harassment.
My experiences came to a head while I was stationed at the School of Infantry at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina from 2002 to 2004, where I witnessed reports of rape, sexual assault and harassment swept under the rug by a handful of field-grade officers,’ she said.
While in service, Bhagwati faced discrimination and harassment as a woman and has borne direct witness to military's handling of sexual violence, said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who chaired the special Congressional hearing. Perpetrators were promoted or transferred to other units without punishment, while victims were accused of lying or exaggerating their claims in order to ruin men's reputations, she alleged.
Anu Bhagwati, now the executive director and co-founder of the Service Women's Action Network (SWAN), was speaking at a Congressional hearing on Sexual Assault in the Military.
‘During my five years as a Marine officer, I experienced daily discrimination and sexual harassment.
My experiences came to a head while I was stationed at the School of Infantry at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina from 2002 to 2004, where I witnessed reports of rape, sexual assault and harassment swept under the rug by a handful of field-grade officers,’ she said.
While in service, Bhagwati faced discrimination and harassment as a woman and has borne direct witness to military's handling of sexual violence, said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who chaired the special Congressional hearing. Perpetrators were promoted or transferred to other units without punishment, while victims were accused of lying or exaggerating their claims in order to ruin men's reputations, she alleged.
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