Forward Assist CEO Gives Evidence At Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill.

Forward Assist were honoured to be invited to speak at the Select Committee on the Armed Forces Bill today. On the panel were Emma Norton from the Centre for Military Justice and Dame Vera Baird Victims Commissioner, who praised the work of Forward Assist and Salute Her and their joint efforts to support those veterans struggling to come to terms with the long term impact of military sexual trauma during service life. Our 2019 ethnographic research paper ‘No Man’s Land’ highlighted a significant number of women veterans for whom the military justice system had neither resolved or offered any closure in relation to bullying, harassment, sexual assault or rape. Tony made the point that the victims welfare needs to be at the centre of any military investigation and the reputation of the military should be secondary both during and after that judicial process ended.

You can watch the event by following the link below;

https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/eaf8d87e-0017-4f19-87a8-ff4a72a7a324

You can read our written evidence here:

https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/23626/pdf/

The UK Government/MOD Should Recognise Military Sexual Trauma (MST)

We are campaigning for change. The Government and Ministry of Defence do not currently recognise the term ‘Military Sexual Trauma’ (MST) and as a result there are no ‘gender specific’ trauma informed services specialising in MST. The negative impact of such experiences can be devastating and last a life time without timely specialist support during and after service.

In response, we have lodged a Parliamentary Petition with the UK Government and it has now gone live. You can sign the Petition here:

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/566588

“We call on the Government to take responsibility and action to provide 'gender specific' trauma informed, confidential and independent specialist interventions/support for survivors of MST. The UK Government & (Ministry of Defence) should, like our international partners adopt the term Military Sexual Trauma (MST) as a stand-alone and recognisable enduring traumatic experience that affects men but disproportionately women service personnel, during and after military service”.

Forward Assist are actively campaigning for equitable mental health support services & post service employment opportunities for women. https://www.forward-assist.com/salute-her”

Forward Assist recognise that women veterans are a hidden, marginalised, frequently ignored & forgotten population. We have been actively campaigning for equitable mental health support services for those traumatised by war, sexual assault and harassment.

Forward Assist Set To Investigate Male Sexual Trauma During Military Service.

In partnership with ‘Baseline Research’ Forward Assist are delighted to be facilitating an ethnographic research inquiry into the impact ‘Military Sexual Trauma’ has on male service personnel during and after service. Read more here: ……… download pdf