NYLAG has joined with the American Civil Liberties Union and ten other organizations in filing an amicus brief in support of a lawsuit filed by Jane Doe, a former cadet at West Point, the U.S. Military Academy, who was subjected to sexual violence and harassment. In 2010, the Department of Defense found that 94% of women indicated that they experienced sexist behavior. In the years since, these numbers have not improved. In 2016, over 10% of West Point women reported that they experienced unwanted sexual contact, an increase from the 9.1% of West Point women who reported such contact in 2010. Moreover, of the West Point women who reported experiencing unwanted sexual contact, only 5% reported their assaults in 2016, down from the 14% who reported their assaults in 2010. The brief argues that the Second Circuit must recognize damages remedies for survivors of sexual violence at military academies.
Read the full brief here