WASHINGTON

- A US Department of Defense report released Thursday found a significant increase in sexual assault cases, at a time when such cases are underreported due to the decline in trust in the military justice system as a means of achieving justice.

The report estimates that more than 8% of all female soldiers experienced unwanted sexual intercourse in 2021, and this percentage among male soldiers reached 1.5%, the highest rate since the Pentagon began recording such cases in 2004.

In contrast to previous years, during which the Pentagon encouraged and facilitated victims to report any cases of sexual assault, the year 2021 witnessed a significant decrease in the reporting of assaults, compared to a significant increase in the number of assault cases.

US forces prepare to leave and deploy in Europe in the wake of the war in Ukraine (Reuters)

mandatory annual report

The Pentagon releases a report each year on the number of sexual assaults reported by Defense Department workers, but because sexual assault is a highly underreported crime, the department has begun a classified survey every two years to get a clearer picture of the problem.

The poll revealed that approximately 36,000 male and female soldiers had been subjected to unwanted sexual intercourse, after this number did not exceed 20,000 soldiers exposed to the same situations in 2018, according to US military officials.

Cases increased by 13% in 2021 compared to the previous year.

The report noted a significant weakness in the rates of reporting these violations, as during 2021 only 7260 cases of sexual assault (20%) were reported.

According to the report, the overall increase is largely fueled by a jump of nearly 26 percent among ground forces personnel, the largest increase since 2013.

While the Navy witnessed an increase of 9%, the Air Force saw a 2% increase, while the increase among the Marines was less than 2%.

Congress and Military Sexual Assault Issues

The latest figures are sure to anger members of Congress who have criticized the Pentagon's efforts to deal with sexual crimes and misconduct.

The issue of sexual assault in the US armed forces is of great interest to members of Congress from both parties.

Congress has passed several legislation to improve prevention, response, and accountability for sex-related crimes within the Department of Defense.

Congress has the constitutional authority to enact military criminal laws to which members of the armed forces are subject.

Since 2004, Congress has enacted more than 100 laws intended to address various aspects of the problem, and has allocated significant financial resources to the Department of Defense and other federal agencies.

A study by the Congressional Research Service, the research body that provides information and reports to US lawmakers, indicated that Congress organizes its oversight and actions on military sexual assault through four areas:

  • The first addresses actions to improve the management, monitoring, and evaluation of the Department of Defense's efforts to prevent and respond to sexual assault.

  • The second scope includes efforts to reduce the number of sexual assaults through screening, training, and organizational culture.

  • The third scope focuses on the Department of Defense's response once an alleged assault has occurred, including measures to protect and support the victim.

  • The latter scope deals with the administration of justice through military investigative and judicial processes.

Congress also continues to pressure the Pentagon to adopt mechanisms that encourage and facilitate reporting of sexual assaults by allowing victims to access support services (eg, legal, medical, and health advice), and ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable through the military justice system.

Congress has passed several pieces of legislation to improve prevention, response, and accountability for sex-related crimes within the Department of Defense (Getty Images)

Congressional Concerns and Declining Confidence

Congress fears that rising rates of sexual assault will discourage young men from joining the military, at a time when the Pentagon struggles to reach its planned draft numbers.

Army leaders acknowledge that it is important for parents to feel comfortable that their son or daughter is in a safe place and will be cared for on duty.

At the same time, it is not surprising that trust in the military's sexual assault response system has also declined.

In 2021, 63 percent of soldiers expressed confidence that their command would "treat them with dignity and respect" after reporting sexual assault, a significant decrease from 82 percent in 2018.

Prosecutions of the accused also decreased. In 2013, the military court system started procedures in 71% of the reports, or 1,187 cases that ended with the issuance of punitive sentences.

Since then, the numbers have fallen steadily, including a drop from 49% of reports in 2018 to 42% of reports in 2021, or 1,744 cases.

Trust in the military's sexual assault response system has fallen (Getty Images)

A broad definition of sexual assault

The definition of sexual assault is not limited to the physical aspect only, the Pentagon defines sexual assault as intentional sexual intercourse characterized by the use of force, threats, intimidation, or abuse of power, or when the victim does not or cannot consent.

The term includes a broad category of sexual offenses or attempts to commit such offenses as rape, sexual assault, abusive sexual contact or forced sodomy, and attempts to commit such offenses.

These offenses also include sexual misconduct such as inconsistent viewing of sexual clips, and videotaping or filming of another individual's private parts.

This article also includes prostitution, coercive procuring and indecency.