Sexual harassment is now a legal offense within the army's judicial code after President Joe Biden signed an government order Wednesday.

Biden's order is the newest in efforts by Congress and the White Home to overtake how the army responds to sexual harassment. The 2022 Nationwide Protection Authorization Act handed by Congress in December included reforms meant to carry perpetuators of sexual harassment within the army accountable.

"The Biden-Harris administration thanks Congress for its bipartisan dedication to cross monumental reforms to our army justice system," White Home Press Secretary Jen Psaki mentioned throughout a press briefing Wednesday. "We additionally sit up for persevering with to work with Congress to assist the protection and dignity of our service members."

Biden's order updates the Uniform Code of Army Justice, which gives the authorized framework governing members of the armed forces.

Vanessa Guillen Protest in California
President Joe Biden signed an order codifying adjustments to how the army handles sexual harassment claims, meant to carry perpetuators accountable. Above, protesters march with actress and filmmaker Armida Lopez as she leads a protest for justice for Vanessa Guillén on the Staples Heart on July 26, 2020, in Los Angeles, California. The loss of life of Guillén, an Military specialist, spurred requires procedural reforms for the army in sexual harassment circumstances. Wealthy Fury/Getty Photos

Psaki mentioned it delivers on key suggestions of the Impartial Evaluate Fee, a panel assembled earlier within the Biden administration to suggest reforms on how the army handles sexual harassment. Particularly, she mentioned the order strengthens the army's prosecution of circumstances of home violence.

"This can be a mechanism for there to be accountability when that is applicable, and we actually haven't got that proper now with these crimes," mentioned Lynn Rosenthal, the fee's head, advised Army Instances. "And I do suppose that it additionally helps create cultural change, to see that sexual harassment is being taken very severely. That is one thing that causes quite a lot of hurt by itself, and can also be linked to those greater charges of sexual assault."

One in 16 girls and 1 in 143 males are estimated to expertise sexual assault throughout the army, in keeping with a RAND Company examine launched final 12 months.

The army, in fiscal 12 months 2020, obtained a complete of 1,749 complaints of sexual harassment. Of these complaints, 189 formal complaints concerned allegations "of nonconsensual distribution of personal sexual photos." The cost is a reference to "revenge porn," the sharing of sexual photos with out the individual's consent and has been a reoccurring downside within the army.

The order signed by Biden criminalizes "the wrongful broadcasts or distribution and intimate visible photos."

Psaki mentioned the replace to the Uniform Code of Army Justice honors the reminiscence of Military Specialist Vanessa Guillén. The soldier stationed in Fort Hood was killed in 2020. Her household alleged she skilled ongoing sexual harassment. Guillén's case spurred requires sweeping reforms for a way the army responds to sexual harassment.

The White Home didn't reply to an inquiry from Newsweek Wednesday night.