Assaulted by Brothers in Arms (4 Photos)

François Pesant’s work centers on human rights and environmental issues. The Montreal-based freelance photographer is presently working on a project about the impact of rape in the US military.

Pesant explains, “One American soldier out of seven is now a female. These women are more at risk of being raped by a brother in arms than of being killed by the enemy. In 2011, 19,000 women were sexually assaulted in the US military. Only 3200 denounced the crime, and less than eight percent of these reported cases went to trial. Sexual assaults have deep life-long consequences for service women. But denouncing them is risky. Many have been demoted or forced out of the military after reporting a rape.”

Chatelaine magazine recently published part of Pesant’s ongoing story and photographs here.