Colleen Hodgetts writes: Sexual Violence in the Peace Corps



When the original 20/20 story broke, one Peace Corp applicant wrote on their blog, "Choosing to serve in the Peace Corp means taking a risk." So this is the problem- women are taking risks and sometimes, well, they just happened to get raped. If you are a rape survivor, it turns out that you were taking a risk, and you should have known it at the time. Whether that risk was drinking with a trusted friend who then took advantage of you or serving the United States, you were taking the risk.

Colleen Hodgetts writes: Sexual Violence in the Peace Corps

Sexual Violence in the Peace Corps

This week, RHReality Check featured a video of a survivor describing her assault and the response of the Peace Corps. (Trigger warning.) This video is from a previous segment on 20/20. In the video, the survivor states that the response was more hurtful than the rape. Survivors' efforts to get recognition were profiled in the New York Times, and while the major news coverage is encouraging, it seems that the Peace Corps is unresponsive to demands for proper treatment and support of sexual assault survivors.

The saddest part of this story is that I am not surprised at all by the Peace Corps' response. I have never served in the Peace Corps, but as the Tennessee Guerrilla Women point out, there is a thriving rape culture state side. Americans live in a country where 11-year-old girls are blamed for their own gang rape. It's estimated that one in three women in the military is the victim of sexual assault. When the original 20/20 story broke, one Peace Corp applicant wrote on their blog, "Choosing to serve in the Peace Corp means taking a risk." So this is the problem- women are taking risks and sometimes, well, they just happened to get raped. If you are a rape survivor, it turns out that you were taking a risk, and you should have known it at the time. Whether that risk was drinking with a trusted friend who then took advantage of you or serving the United States, you were taking the risk.

When Emily wrote about this issue in January, she called for the Peace Corps to live up to its original intention to "promote world peace and friendship." She wrote about this issue eloquently and thoroughly, and I encourage you to read her full article. World peace includes a supportive response to sexual assault survivors. Peace Corps volunteers are adequately prepared and medicated for malaria and other medical issues. The Peace Corps recognizes that these are risks when one serves in certain countries, and has an infrastructure in place to treat them properly. Why, then, is sexual assault any different?

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: May, 2011; Speaking Out; Sexual Assault and Harassment

When this story was posted in June 2011, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

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May 26, 2011: The RPCV in the White House The RPCV in the White House 8 Apr Peace Corps Recruiter Remembers Thomas Maresco 2 Mar Robbie Schwartz writes: How would my life have been different? 2 Mar Rajiv Joseph is a fresh and compelling voice in theater 5 Mar Robert Textor Releases Peace Corps Classic 13 Mar Chris Matthews writes: What's the Real Mission In Libya? 22 Mar Peace Corps Faces Budget Ax in FY2012 23 Mar Brendan Moroso writes: Revolution comes to North Africa 23 Mar Jessica Moon Bernstein has exhibition "Ourrubberos" 26 Mar Joshua Stern Founds Envaya to Provide Interent Access 26 Mar Richard Sitler Photographs PCVs around the world 27 Mar Scott Lacy is Executive Director of African Sky 29 Mar American Sailor Accused of Raping PCV in Uganda 24 Apr Scott Koepke Shares his Love for Dirt 26 Apr Jane Wolkowicz tried to be Strict Vegetarian in Kazakhstan 27 Apr George Packer Writes: Bin Laden: Better Late Than Never 2 May Clare Major Screens Film "Feast & Sacrifice" 4 May Steve Kruse and Salifu Mansaray met 40 years ago 4 May SuZanne Kimbrell Rocks in Dallas 12 May Nancy Sathre-Vogel writes:A Long Path to Nowhere 15 May Gal Beckerman writes: What is Peace Corps for? 15 May Katie Dyer Founded Fair Trade Folk Art Gallery 17 May Henry Wilhelm Honored for his Photography 25 May

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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.

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Peace Corps: The Next Fifty Years As we move into the Peace Corps' second fifty years, what single improvement would most benefit the mission of the Peace Corps? Read our op-ed about the creation of a private charitable non-profit corporation, independent of the US government, whose focus would be to provide support and funding for third goal activities. Returned Volunteers need President Obama to support the enabling legislation, already written and vetted, to create the Peace Corps Foundation. RPCVs will do the rest.

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How Volunteers Remember Sarge 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."

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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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Join Us Mr. President! "We will double the size of the Peace Corps by its 50th anniversary in 2011. And we'll reach out to other nations to engage their young people in similar programs, so that we work side by side to take on the common challenges that confront all humanity," said Barack Obama during his campaign. Returned Volunteers rally and and march to the White House to support a bold new Peace Corps for a new age. Latest: Senator Dodd introduces Peace Corps Improvement and Expansion Act of 2009 .

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