2011.05.11: May 11, 2011: Where are Peace Corps volunteers most at risk of sexual assault?

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By Admin1 (admin) (98.188.147.225) on Sunday, May 15, 2011 - 1:20 pm: Edit Post

Where are Peace Corps volunteers most at risk of sexual assault?

Where are Peace Corps volunteers most at risk of sexual assault?

Today was not the first time concerns were raised about the safety and security of Peace Corps volunteers. A report from 2002 by the Government Accountability Office noted that volunteers reported they had not been prepared for sexual harassment. Others told the GAO that they wished they had been given self-protection training. At that time 51% of volunteers reported sexual harassment. Former Peace Corps volunteers who were raped during their time in the field told the House Foreign Affairs Committee today that their training did not warn them of the possible dangers. They said the sexual assault prevention video "Serving Safely" shown during their training portrayed the victims as "apologetic" for being victims of assault.

Where are Peace Corps volunteers most at risk of sexual assault?

Where are Peace Corps volunteers most at risk of sexual assault?

Posted by Laura Strickler

At a dramatic congressional hearing today, two former Peace Corps volunteers took the stand before the House Foreign Affairs Committee and recounted horrific stories of rapes they suffered while posted around the world. The former volunteers say that the Peace Corps higher ups responsible for watching over them in the field ignored their safety concerns, and that when sexual assaults did occur, they were treated as though the assault was their fault.

CBS News analyzed sexual assaults reported to the agency from 2004 through 2009 and found that Peace Corps volunteers were at higher risk for sexual assault in some countries more than others.

The one country that consistently tops the list with a high rate of reported sexual assaults is Jordan.

The following countries had reported rates of sexual assault for Peace Corps volunteers at 10% or more:

2009: Armenia, Azerbijan, Peru, Vanuatu, Kyrgyz Republic, Turkmenistan, Jordan

2008: Georgia, Jordan

2007: Albania, Georgia, Mongolia, Jordan

2006: Georgia, Jordan

2005: East Timor, Jordan

2004: Jordan, Mongolia, Morocco

The Peace Corps says between 2000 and 2009 there have been over 1000 sexual assaults including 221 rapes or attempted rapes.

Today was not the first time concerns were raised about the safety and security of Peace Corps volunteers. A report from 2002 by the Government Accountability Office noted that volunteers reported they had not been prepared for sexual harassment. Others told the GAO that they wished they had been given self-protection training. At that time 51% of volunteers reported sexual harassment.

Former Peace Corps volunteers who were raped during their time in the field told the House Foreign Affairs Committee today that their training did not warn them of the possible dangers. They said the sexual assault prevention video "Serving Safely" shown during their training portrayed the victims as "apologetic" for being victims of assault.

The Peace Corps said today they would no longer use the video and will develop a new one.




Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: May, 2011; Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams; Peace Corps Headquarters; Sexual Assault and Harassment; Congress; Legislation; Safety and Security of Volunteers





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Congress Holds Hearings on Sexual Assault Date: May 15 2011 No: 1518 Congress Holds Hearings on Sexual Assault
Congress held hearings on the sexual assault of Peace Corps volunteers. Read the testimony of returned and current Peace Corps volunteers on how the problem is still ongoing, and not limited to any particular country or region. Director Williams says that "it has become apparent to me that the Peace Corps has not always been sufficiently responsive or sensitive to victims of crime and their families. I sincerely regret that." Read what the Peace Corps is doing to address the issue.

Peace Corps: The Next Fifty Years Date: March 8 2011 No: 1513 Peace Corps: The Next Fifty Years
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As the Peace Corps' Founding Director Sargent Shriver laid the foundations for the most lasting accomplishment of the Kennedy presidency. Shriver spoke to returned volunteers at the Peace Vigil at Lincoln Memorial in September, 2001 for the Peace Corps 40th. "The challenge I believe is simple - simple to express but difficult to fulfill. That challenge is expressed in these words: PCV's - stay as you are. Be servants of peace. Work at home as you have worked abroad. Humbly, persistently, intelligently. Weep with those who are sorrowful, Care for those who are sick. Serve your wives, serve your husbands, serve your families, serve your neighbors, serve your cities, serve the poor, join others who also serve," said Shriver. "Serve, Serve, Serve. That's the answer, that's the objective, that's the challenge."

PCV Murder Investigated Date: January 18 2011 No: 1477 PCV Murder Investigated
ABC News has investigated the murder of Benin PCV Kate Puzey. Read our original coverage of the crime, comments on Peace Corps actions, the email Puzey sent her country director about sexual incidents with Puzey's students and with another PCV, the backstory on how RPCVs helped the Puzey family, and Peace Corps' official statement. PCOL Editorial: One major shortcoming that the Puzey murder highlights is that Peace Corps does not have a good procedure in place for death notifications.

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Story Source: CBS

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Williams; HQ; SA; Congress; Legislation; Safety

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