Shari Belafonte Hosts Event In Los Angeles to Launch "Women of War documentary"

LOS ANGELES - May 7, 2013 - PRLog -- Shari Belafonte, actress, photographer and spokesperson for the Lili Claire Foundation will serve as Master of Ceremonies for a special benefit supporting women who were sexually assaulted while serving in the military.  The event will be held on May 15 Busby's East in Los Angeles to launch of a compelling documentary called “Women of War”.  Entertainment will be provided by performances by all female rock artists.

The documentary sheds light on the alarmingly high statistics of sexual assault in the U.S. military. Proceeds from this benefit will go to The Military Rape Crisis Center.

The statistics on sexual assault in the military is at an all-time high. One-third of women in the military said they were sexually harassed, a number 500% higher than their male counterparts, according to the latest Pentagon survey. The data was compiled by the Defense Manpower Data Center from a survey of 24,000 service members.

In 2010, nearly 2700 sexual assaults were reported by people in uniform. But the looming question remains, how many were not reported? From a recent investigation, 80% of sexual assaults in the military are NOT reported so how many women in our military are being sexually harassed, assaulted and traumatized and more importantly, why is the military not doing more to protect them?

Since the beginning of the war in Iraq sexual assaults in the military jumped nearly 40% by 2005 and another 24% on top of that in 2006.

About the Documentary:

“Women of War” (WOW) is a sometime tender, sometimes brutal look at the pride and pain that America’s female fighting force encounters when they choose to charge front and center in some of America’s most horrific battles. It also examines how PTSD manifests itself differently in women and questions why little is being done to reduce the accelerating rates of homelessness, substance abuse, divorce and suicide among America’s bravest women.

Produced by the filmmakers of the award winning 2009 documentary “Who Will Stand” “Women of War” will examine what strides have been made since their “Who Will Stand” first brought these relatively unknown issues to the American public.  

Busby's East
5463 Wilshire
Los Angeles, CA

Media check in: 5 pm
Red Carpet: 5:30 pm

Media credentials contact: lynleystewart@aol.com or 310-993-8583