Greetings, You are about to read actual first person testimonies of sex abuse in the United States military. A lot of the survivors do go into details about their sexual assault, rape and the military response to the sexual violence. Reading these testimonies might be upsetting to survivors of sexual violence. Please take that into … Continue reading Message from Panayiota Bertzikis
By Panayiota Bertzikis One in three women as well as many men in the Coast Guard are going to fall victim of sexual assault and rape. While a lot of focus has been on the Department of Defense to make changes, the United States Coast Guard-which falls under the Department of Homeland Security has been … Continue reading Military Rape Crisis Center Press US Coast Guard to improve Sexual Assault Prevention and Response
THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO BE HEARD: The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will be holding a briefing concerning Military Sexual Trauma on Jan. 11, 2013 at 9:30 AM. Active duty and former service members, particularly those who have been victims of sexual assault are encouraged to submit written comments. These public comments may be … Continue reading THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO BE HEARD
""They do say they want to change, but I feel a lot of it is lip service until we see a higher prosecution rate, until we see more rapists sent to prison for rape," said Panayiota Bertzikis, executive director of the Military Rape Crisis Center. "The bottom line is a felony has been committed and … Continue reading Navy attempts culture change on sexual assaults
Wednesday, May 30, 2012, marks the fifth observation of Military Sexual Trauma Awareness Day http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/05/30/1095847/-Military-Sexual-Trauma-An-Epidemic
Panayiota Bertzikis, United States Coast Guard This is a post that is so difficult to write. This is a post that I wish that I did not have to write. I wish instead that I were standing watch on a 210’. I wish instead that I were working on my qualification to make it as … Continue reading Military Sexual Trauma Memorial Garden
CNN has interviewed women in all branches of the armed forces, including the Coast Guard, who tell stories that follow a similar pattern -- a sexual assault, a command dismissive of the allegations and a psychiatric discharge.read full article here.
It all started when a local newspaper published my rape story. I was called into James Freeman office to be told by James Freeman, Lt. Patricia Tutalo, Lt. Thomas Gwilliam and Commander Joseph Segalla to no longer speak to others about my rape. They were angry that I, an E-3 took it upon herself to … Continue reading Introduction
