Cruise Ship Sexual Assault News And Information
In June of 2008, Congress introduced the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2008 in the U.S. Senate by Senator John Kerry (D-MA), and in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA). This was a big step toward helping victims of
cruise ship sexual assault as well as helping those that were raped on a cruise ship.
The problem is that many cruise line companies hire foreign staff members for lower wages and want them to mingle with the passengers in order to receive tips. Passengers tend to trust crew members and even other passengers more than they would ordinary strangers, thus letting their guard down.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigations in the United States, sexual assault is the leading crime reported on cruise ships. The new legislation has included requirements of cruise ships to provide help with cruise ship sexual assault victims. The help comes in the way of having access to RAINN’s national Sexual Assault Hotlines.
Other committee recommendations that will help with cruise ship assaults is the training of new members to work with their passengers and to ensure that all cruise line are accountable to the public, thus sexual assaults will be reported to the public. The recommendation also goes as far as to talk with passengers before departing on their cruise about the risk of sexual assault while on the cruise and that they will have help with sexual assault if needed.
The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2008 also offers help with sexual assault to provide the victim with immediate medical care in the way of anti-retroviral medications and have a United States licensed medical physician on board for providing examinations (rape kits) as well as proper medications and care.
Evelyn Fortier, RAINN's Vice President of Public Policy, when talking about ways passengers can reduce their risk of sexual assault while on a cruise explained, “Even though you're on vacation, don't let your guard down completely. Being on a cruise can create a false sense of community, but in reality the typical cruise ship is like a floating city filled with strangers; if you feel unsafe in any situation, trust your intuition.”
If you need help with
cruise ship sexual assault, you should contact a
personal injury attorney as soon as possible. You will need to provide your cruise ship attorney with as much information as you can concerning the assault including all records of the incident that were recorded by security personnel and the ships doctor.