Further e-mail to the Committee from Samer
Muscati
NEW LEGISLATION
FOR WOMEN
IN WAR
ZONES
Could you please circulate this document as
well? I am hoping that the British Parliament will enact something
similar after the Foreign Affairs Select Committee reviews all
the information that I have sent.
Senators act to protect women in war zones from
sexual assault
WASHINGTON, DC—A key US Senate committee
has responded to public testimony over the lack of prosecution
in more than two dozen alleged rapes of female contractors in
Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Senate Armed Services Committee today approved
language in a broad defense policy bill that would require contractors
in war zones to report such crimes and provide assistance for
victims of sexual assault.
Last month, a Senate subcommittee led by Florida
Democrat Bill Nelson held a hearing that revealed 26 female contractors
had brought sexual assault complaints but none of the cases had
been prosecuted by the Defense or Justice departments. Testimony
from two of the women showed such complaints routinely were ignored.
"The decision of my colleagues on the Armed
Services Committee to support this legislation is why these women
came forward and testified," said Nelson, a member of the
panel. "They seek justice and are trying to help others who
might be sexually assaulted in a war zone".
Nelson said he called a hearing of a Foreign
Relations subcommittee he chairs because one of the victims was
from Florida and complained to his office about how rapes of women
in the war zones are being swept under the rug by US contracting
companies.
On Thursday, the Armed Services Committee included
Nelson's language in the National Defense Authorization Act, which
is an overall blueprint for defense spending and policy. The legislation
now goes to the full Senate for a vote later this year.
Following is Nelson's provision:
AMENDMENT NO
LLLL CALENDAR
NO LLL
Purpose: To provide for additional contractor
requirements and responsibilities relating to alleged crimes by
or against contractor personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan.
IN THE
SENATE OF
THE UNITED
STATES—110TH
CONG, 2D
SESS
To authorize appropriations for fiscal year
2009 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for
military construction, and for defense activities of the Department
of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such
fiscal year, and for other purposes.
AMENDMENT INTENDED
TO BE
PROPOSED BY
MR NELSON OF
FLORIDA
Viz:
At the appropriate place in title VIII, insert
the following:
SEC ll. ADDITIONAL CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES RELATING TO ALLEGED CRIMES BY OR AGAINST CONTRACTOR
PERSONNEL IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.
IN GENERAL.—Section 861(b) of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110-181;
122 Stat. 253; 10 U.S.C. 2302 note) is amended by adding at the
end the following new paragraphs:
"(7) Mechanisms for ensuring that contractors—
"`(A) are required to report offenses described
in paragraph (6) that are alleged to have been committed by or
against contractor personnel to appropriate investigative authorities
and
"`(8) Responsibility for providing victim
and witness protection and assistance to contractor employees
and other persons supporting the mission of the United States
Government in Iraq or Afghanistan in connection with alleged offenses
described in paragraph (6).".
5(b) IMPLEMENTATION.—The memorandum
of understanding required by section 861(a) of the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 shall be modified to address
the requirements under the amendment made by subsection (a) not
later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
1 May 2008
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