Sexual Assault Reports Rising Across US Military Department of Defense Says

WMUR                                                                                                                  February 20, 2023

The Department of Defense said sexual assault and sexual harassment are persistent challenges across all military services. The agency said it's actively working to create solutions to address the problem, but advocates for sex assault survivors said it may not be enough.

​Looking at the military as a whole, Department of Defense numbers show that reports of sexual assault increased by 13% from 2020 to 2021. It estimates that more than 35,000 servicemembers experienced sexual assault in fiscal year 2021, 19,000 women and 16,000 men.

"It can certainly be harder for victims who are part of a closed system, maybe a university, the military, place of employment, where they are not given the resources they need," said Lyn Schollett, executive director of the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. "So, crisis centers stand by, ready to provide those resources."

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