Four female senators have joined forces to sponsor legislation to permanently keep records about military harassment, violence or rape.
Saving documents that would make it easier for victims and later take advantage of the veterans health care related to post sexual trauma or other disabilities that are connected to the service. This would also help to victims to pursue lawsuits and could provide evidence against the offender, which later was charged with another crime.
This Bill, support for victims, aimed at forcing services retain records that the current policy, destroyed one year after. Policy document storage depends on the service, but are regularly destroyed records of any allegations of sexual harassment for equal opportunities offices suites, provide physical evidence of rape and assault, some investigative documents.
Under the terms of the Ministry of defence will require permanent storage of all documents related to rape or sexual violence. In addition the victims would be given lifetime access to those records, with the guiding principles of confidentiality, to prevent the spread of information without the consent of the victim.
"Instead of trying to destroy these records, we must make sure that the entries are consistent across all military branches," said Senator Amy Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., in his statement on the Bill. "Helping just keep their personal information, we can ensure our veterans have the care they need while supporting justice for victims of the attack."
Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine; Lisa Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska; and Claire McCaskill, D-MO., are cosponsors of the Bill. Collins and McCaskill are members of the Senate Armed Forces Committee when the Bill was referred for consideration.
A similar Bill is considered in the House of representatives, which focuses on how to help victims of sexual trauma, when partner does not exist.
The House Bill, sponsored by Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to adopt the statement by veteran rape, sexual abuse or harassment in cases where there is no military record. Entries may be skipped because they were destroyed, either because the victim never told anyone because of fear or shame.
Because it involves WA rules Pingree Bill was referred to the House Committee on Veterans ' Affairs for consideration.
沒有留言:
張貼留言