November 3, 2003 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Peace Corps lax on security issues by Philippines RPCV Betsy Ferrer
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November 3, 2003 - Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Peace Corps lax on security issues by Philippines RPCV Betsy Ferrer
Peace Corps lax on security issues by Philippines RPCV Betsy Ferrer
Peace Corps lax on security issues by Philippines RPCV Betsy Ferrer
Peace Corps lax on security issues
I am a Peace Corps volunteer who served in the Philippines and returned in March. I did not complete the entire two years of service due to an illness in my family. However, I experienced extreme frustration with the Peace Corps in terms of safety and security and viability of programs.
When I applied, I was told that only experienced teachers would be working in the program. When I arrived at training, however, most of the people in the program had just graduated from college.
During our training, they instructed us to wear a fake wedding ring or invent a boyfriend, fiancé, or husband to cut down on harassment. I was constantly harassed by Filipino men, as were most of my colleagues. Also, they warned us about using alcohol and stated that events would be recorded as "alcohol related incidents." For example, if a female is attacked and raped and the man who attacked her had been drinking, it would be recorded as an alcohol-related incident even if the volunteer had not been drinking.
One of my fellow volunteers was being robbed by her own host family. She obviously did not feel safe in this environment and reported it to the Peace Corps Philippines office. They told her to stay there and try to understand the culture better.
There also seems to be a double standard for volunteers. Women are encouraged to dress very modestly, to avoid drinking alcohol and to put up with harassment. Men, however, are allowed to join barcadas (gin-drinking circles) and many frequent bars.
BETSY FERRER
Decatur
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Story Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Safety and Security of Volunteers; Investigative Journalims; COS - Philippines
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By JohnLorth (cache-ntc-ad05.proxy.aol.com - 198.81.26.106) on Tuesday, February 01, 2005 - 1:20 am: Edit Post |
thats really mean of them.
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By Anonymous (c-24-17-199-154.hsd1.wa.comcast.net - 24.17.199.154) on Friday, June 02, 2006 - 1:14 am: Edit Post |
That is horrible. The security needs to tighten up. There is no excuse for that "lapse in security" I hope you were not harmed directly by anyone. I guess the thinking for the sexist policies is that the corp probably thinks that women are more vulnerable to rape etc. and fear, unlogically, that if a womon goes to a bar they will be exploited some how, where as if a man goes to a bar they are experiencing the culture... I am very sorry that such a such a promising young womon had to go through that. Especially for a charitable cause.