The U.S. navy and better training communities have a lot to be taught from each other in stopping sexual assault and sexual harassment, Deputy Protection Secretary Kathleen H. Hicks stated at present.
Talking nearly, through prerecorded remarks, on the Nationwide Dialogue on Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment at America’s Schools, Universities and Service Academies, Hicks stated public discussions profit everybody. The Navy is a co-host of the occasion.
“On the Division of Protection, combating sexual assault and sexual harassment within the navy is a excessive precedence for [Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III] and me. Doing so not solely ensures that our service members serve in a wholesome organizational local weather — which bolsters our readiness — however it is usually the fitting factor to do,” the deputy secretary stated.
That is why, Austin established an impartial overview fee final yr and charged it with growing suggestions on the best way to advance efforts to counter navy sexual assault and harassment, she famous.
This impartial physique of consultants with a whole bunch of people from throughout the division produced an evidence-based, complete report with greater than 80 suggestions, Hicks stated.
“We are actually within the means of implementing the entire Unbiased Evaluate Fee’s suggestions, and we’re growing metrics to trace our progress in doing so,” she stated.
A number of the division’s areas of focus are reforming the navy justice system, establishing a devoted and specialised violence prevention workforce, and redesigning how DOD staffs, assets and professionalizes the sexual assault response workforce, Hicks stated.
She highlighted three areas of DOD motion now underway to vary tradition and habits:
- DOD goals to empower its service members with the data, expertise and coaching to stop, acknowledge, report and reply to sexual harassment.
- Throughout the division, the employees is working arduous to make sure wholesome practices in its navy workplaces. This implies selling inclusive environments throughout items and workplaces and focusing on danger elements and adverse cultures that result in sexual assault, harassment and different readiness-impacting behaviors.
“The division additionally lately launched the 2021 on-site set up analysis report, which displays a brand new and now-recurring effort that may assist leaders up and down the chain of command establish key data to enhance command climates. This won’t solely assist to stop sexual assault and harassment, but in addition stop different dangerous behaviors, resembling suicide,” Hicks stated.
- DOD is taking steps to strengthen leadership-prevention competence.
“This implies coaching and choosing leaders who usually are not solely dedicated to constructing and rising wholesome climates, however to additionally exhibit the talents we have to successfully stop and reply to experiences of sexual violence,” she stated.
“Whether or not you’re in larger training contemplating navy service or civilian employment, simply starting your profession at DOD, or a seasoned chief, prevention is really an all-hands effort that begins with you,” Hicks stated.
