Skip to main content
Veterans For Peace - 20 Years of Waging Peace
Military Rape Awareness Week: October 12 - 16, 2009

A Message from VFP Board President Mike Ferner

Military Rape Awareness Week:  October 12 - 16, 2009

 

Dear Supporter:

women in the militaryDuring the VFP national convention, the Board declared October 12-16, 2009 Military Rape Awareness Week (MRAW). Rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment in the military is an epidemic but it is not being treated as one. This must change and VFP is contributing to making this change through the MRAW.

Even a Pack of Cigarettes has a Warning

VFP National will assist local chapters and other organizations in a nationwide effort to warn women, our daughters, sister, aunts, mothers and nieces of the known risk of rape in the military. A Veterans Administrative Study financed by the US Army Medical Corps reported that 1 in 3 women in the military were raped. Read the details of the study on VFP's website link (Important:  Read Erratum for specific statistic) to the MRAW and the list of other resources, studies, and reports on the problem. To insure that your efforts during the campaign are credible and successful, please educate yourself and your chapter's members.

1 in 3 women are raped in the military
We can help you combat Military Sexual Trauma!

Below is an introduction to the campaign. The beauty of this campaign is that VFP National is available to assist but chapters may engage in the campaign in any way they see fit. Use the knowledge of your local area and use your imagination to create ways to make the warning known. The below introduction covers Ann Wright's unique action which will be held in NYC on Tuesday, October 13, 2009. Other actions ideas under discussion by chapters include:

  • Members standing or walking in lines 15 yards apart holding a series of signs each with a few words of the message: Study finds 1 out of 3 women raped in the military. A good time and place to do this is along the route of students and school buses on their way to school in the morning.
  • Speaking at school board meetings demanding that students be warned because the recruiters won't warn them.
  • Making business sized cards with the warning and slipping it among products being sold at department stores and groceries.
  • Panel Discussions with rape victims and experts

You may find some of these strategies to be too aggressive or that they involve civil disobedience. CD is a matter of personal conscience. It is not for everybody. Nevertheless, your imaginations are the only limits on the unique ways to get the warning out. Soliciting other peace and justice groups or woman's groups to get the warning out is highly recommended.

Sincerely -

Mike Ferner, VFP National President