Military Sexual Assault Shouldn't Be Minimized Or Dismissed, Biden Says
July 3, 2021, 4:49 am

Military Sexual Assault Shouldn't Be Minimized Or Dismissed, Biden Says

According to CNBC, president Joe Biden on Friday said he “strongly” supports Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s decision to press Congress to remove the investigation and prosecution of sexual assault cases in the military from the armed forces’ chain of command. Military

Biden said in a statement released by the White House, “We need concrete actions that fundamentally change the way we handle military sexual assault and that make it clear that these crimes will not be minimized or dismissed.”

Austin on Friday said he has accepted core recommendations made by the Independent Review Commission on Military Sexual Assault.

CNBC reported that the Pentagon chief said he was directing the Defense Department to work with Congress to amend the Uniform Code of Military Justice to remove the prosecution of sexual assault, domestic violence, child abuse and retaliation from the military chain of command.

Austin also said the department will seek to have sexual harassment added as an offense to the UCMJ.

And the department will seek the creation of dedicated offices within the secretariat of each military department to handle prosecutions of the crimes, “with appropriate legal oversight and guidance” from the office of the Defense secretary.

The directive is less broad than a bill being pushed by Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., which would have independent military prosecutors — not military commanders — handle all felonies involving the military, not just crimes involving sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse.

Austin, in his directive, said, “Our most critical asset as a Department is our people, and our people and readiness are inextricably linked.”

“We will remain the preeminent fighting force in the world because we strive to better take care of our people,” Austin said. “Our values and expectations remain at the core of addressing this problem and I have every confidence that our Force will get this right.” Military

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Source: CNBC

Image source: Getty Images-CNBC

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”