Last week in LA, in a star studded event to celebrate the DVD release of The Invisible War that included Senator Barbara Boxer, the filmmakers and executive producers launched a new program that was inspired by the film to treat people who have experienced military sexual assault.
The Artemis Invisible War Recovery Program will be a pilot program that will hopefully expand and become permanent. Seeded with a $500,000 grant, the program will help the thousands of women and men (yes, some men have been sexually assaulted in the military but the majority of assaults are committed against women) deal with their trauma and help them get their lives back. The Serenity Trauma Healing Center in Los Angeles and The Bridge to Recovery in Santa Barbara are co-developing the program, which will launch in early 2013.
On this Veterans Day let’s keep in mind the people who are charged with protecting our country who are assaulted mostly by their fellow soldiers. The statistics are horrific. According to the press release: “The Department of Defense estimates a staggering 19,300 service members were sexually assaulted in 2010 alone.
A female soldier in combat is more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than killed by enemy fire.”
The Invisible War is on the short list for best documentary for the Academy Awards. Nominations come out in January.
Doc ‘The Invisible War’ Gets High Praise From Sen. Barbara Boxer (Hollywood Reporter)
