President Biden signed an order Wednesday making sexual harassment a crime under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The move was required as one of the reforms in the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act.
“We reaffirm our commitment to advancing the military justice reform that the President signed into law as part of the NDAA, which includes the historic shift of legal decisions from commanders to independent, specialized prosecutors in cases of sexual assault, domestic violence and other serious crimes,” the White House said in a fact sheet. “And we honor the courage and leadership of the many survivors and advocates who long fought for these critical changes.”
The White House said the order is dedicated to the memory of Spc. Vanessa Guillen, 20, who was sexually harassed then killed by a fellow soldier.
“This is a very emotional and a very proud moment for my family,” Guillen’s sister Mayra said in a statement.
Photo by Natalie Khawam
