USAFE: Fewer sex assaults in Europe – maybe

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USAFE: Fewer sex assaults in Europe – maybe
By Scott Schonauer, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Friday, March 21, 2008

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — Reported sexual assaults at U.S. Air Force bases in Europe declined last year, but officials cautioned that it is difficult to capture an accurate picture of the problem because many incidents go unreported.

Air Force bases across the region reported 83 sexual assaults in 2007, down from 94 last year, said Tom Appel-Schumacher, U.S. Air Forces in Europe’s sexual assault response coordinator. The decline does not necessarily mean the number of attacks has gone down because it is difficult to estimate how many people have not come forward seeking help.

Many victims do not come forward because of various reasons, including fear of reprisals, shame, concerns over how others in the command will view them and worries that it could affect the mission.

“Approximately 80 percent of sexual assaults that occur go unreported,” said Appel-Schumacher, citing research conducted at universities. “This is not only in the military environment, but it’s on college campuses and within the general population.”

The number of reported sexual assaults across military dropped in 2007, from 2,688 to 2,947 in 2006, according to a report released by the Pentagon last Friday. Rape, nonconsensual sodomy, indecent assaults and attempts to commit those acts are considered sexual assault by the military.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=53477