Veterans and visitors to VA facilities can now report incidents of sexual harassment or assault that occur on campus by calling the Department of Veterans Affairs’ 1-800-MyVA411 information line.
Officials announced Wednesday that the call center, established in 2019 to provide information on VA health care services, disability compensation and education benefits and serve as a venue to receive veterans’ concerns, will take confidential reports on incidents of rape, assault or harassment.
According to the VA, the hotline will be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and callers will have access to follow-up health care and support if needed.
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The new method of reporting is in addition to the VA’s current avenues for reporting an incident, which include reporting directly to VA police, a VA staff member or local law enforcement.
“By creating multiple avenues for persons to report sexual harassment or sexual assault incidents, the VA removes barriers to reporting and creates a quicker path for VA to investigate and take appropriate action,” Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough said in a press release Wednesday.
The Department of Veterans Affairs did not provide details on the number of incidents of sexual assault or harassment reported in the past decade by veterans or visitors to VA campuses, including family members,…
