US women lawmakers propose bill to prevent sexual attacks in military

In view of the recent allegations against three US Naval Academy football players for sexually assaulting a female midshipman last year, the women lawmakers have appealed for a change in the military law by proposing a bill.

Sexual assaults in the US military have reportedly increased and the women lawmakers want a bill to remove oversight of sexual assault cases from the military command structure.

According to the report, the assaulted woman said that she was disciplined for under-age drinking while the athletes, one of whom discouraged her from cooperating with the investigators, were permitted to continue playing.

Senator Susan Collins said that military's policy of zero tolerance to sexual harassment and assault must become a culture for zero tolerance to prevent these crimes from occurring in the first place, the report added

According to the report, in another incident a former Marine Corps lance corporal Stacey Thompson said that a sergeant laced her drinks with drugs and raped her when she was only 19 years in age.

She was separated from the Marine Corps with a less-than-honourable discharge for drug use. She has now filed her case in the Department of Veterans Affairs for compensation related to military sexual trauma and appeal for an upgraded honourable discharge status.

The Pentagon has launched an online chat called 'Safe Helproom' to counter victims of military sexual abuse.

However, the senators are unsatisfied with the launch of chat rooms and want the bill to be passed.