U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced Thursday seven new initiatives to strengthen and standardize the department’s sexual assault prevention and response effort.
In a memo to the field, Hagel called elimination of sexual assault in the military one of the department’s top priorities.
“This effort requires our absolute and sustained commitment to providing a safe environment in which every service member and DOD civilian is free from the threat of sexual harassment and assault,” he wrote in a statement. “Our success depends on a dynamic and responsive approach. We, therefore, must continually assess and strive to improve our prevention and response programs.”
On May 6, 2013, the secretary directed the services and defense agencies to strengthen the program in commander accountability, command climate, victim advocacy and safety.
The secretary’s initiatives strengthen these areas further. They include:
The new measures should strengthen the department’s sexual assault prevention and response programs, the secretary said.
“Remember, we are all accountable and responsible for eliminating this crime from our ranks,” Hagel said in the memo.
[mappress] Press Release, August 16, 2013; Image: US Navy