2011.01.14: January 14, 2011: Murder of Peace Corps Volunteer Kate Puzey Raises Questions On Safety Of Volunteers

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Benin: Peace Corps Benin : Peace Corps Benin: Newest Stories: 2011.01.14: January 14, 2011: Report by ABC News 20/20: Parents of Slain Volunteer Kate Puzey Say Peace Corps Error Led to Murder: 2011.01.14: January 14, 2011: Murder of Peace Corps Volunteer Kate Puzey Raises Questions On Safety Of Volunteers

By Admin1 (admin) (98.188.147.225) on Saturday, May 28, 2011 - 10:23 am: Edit Post

Murder of Peace Corps Volunteer Kate Puzey Raises Questions On Safety Of Volunteers

Murder of Peace Corps Volunteer Kate Puzey Raises Questions On Safety Of Volunteers

In March 2009, Kate Puzey became the 23rd woman in the Peace Corps to be murdered since the organization's inception. She learned that another teacher and peace corps volunteer was sexually molesting girls at her school. Puzey turned him in by sending what she thought was a confidential email to the Peace Corps. The accused teacher's brother worked in the Peace Corps office in Benin, and officials say someone there exposed what Puzey did. Her throat was slit after the accused teacher was fired. "We miss you darling," said Harry Puzey, Kate's father. "Kate died in March and by May, no more contact with the Peace Corps," said Lois Puzey, Kate's mother. Puzey's family was dissappointed by with the Peace Corps following the murder. They were left in the dark on what happened.

Murder of Peace Corps Volunteer Kate Puzey Raises Questions On Safety Of Volunteers

Peace Corps Murder Raises Questions On Safety Of Volunteers

By Philippe Djegal, News Channel 3 Reporter

POSTED: 9:35 pm PST January 14, 2011
UPDATED: 11:34 pm PST January 14, 2011

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. -- It's one of the most respected organizations on earth.

The Peace Corps was created by President John F. Kennedy to help people all over the world.

But on the eve of it's 50th anniversary questions are being raised about how safe women are serving overseas following the murder of a volunteer.

ABC News chief investigative correspondant Brian Ross has been probing the murder of peace corp volunteer Kate Puzey.

She served in Benin, Africa and that's where she was killed.

The organization has been accused of trying to cover up the murder and not protecting it's women overseas.

But one Cathedral City pastor says serving in the peace corp was the highlight of her life.

"I felt very safe in the peace corps," said Rev. Dr. Amanda Burr, with United Methodist Church of Palm Springs.

Burr served from 1972 until 1974 in Columbia, South America.

She was a nurse in a country that has now become so dangerous that the Peace Corps is no longer there.

"I was the only gringa in Puerto Carreno Vichada," said Burr. "But I had Columbian allies, who took very, very good care of me and made sure that I was always safe and protected."

But Peace Corps volunteer Kate Puzey, 24, was not as fortunate.

"We're at the Badjoud march, my march."

Her colleagues loved her and so did the people she helped in Benin, Africa.

"I was at Caswa for two hours," said Puzey.

In March 2009, she became the 23rd woman in the Peace Corps to be murdered since the organization's inception.

She learned that another teacher and peace corps volunteer was sexually molesting girls at her school.

Puzey turned him in by sending what she thought was a confidential email to the Peace Corps.

The accused teacher's brother worked in the Peace Corps office in Benin, and officials say someone there exposed what Puzey did.

Her throat was slit after the accused teacher was fired.

"We miss you darling," said Harry Puzey, Kate's father.

"Kate died in March and by May, no more contact with the Peace Corps," said Lois Puzey, Kate's mother.

"I think it's possible for anybody in a foreign country to get themselves in trouble," said Burr, who also mentioned that it's important to note that the people serving overseas for the Peace Corps are volunteers. "As a matter of fact, when I came back I was a recruiter and the recruitment process is quite stringent for people to get into the Peace Corps."

Puzey's family was dissappointed by with the Peace Corps following the murder.

They were left in the dark on what happened.

Burr sypathizes with the family, but believes stories like this are isolated and don't represent the Peace Corps as a whole.

"It made all the difference in my life," said Burr. "It was perhaps the singular most important thing that I ever did, and led me on a path that has led me into the ministry as a matter of fact to because a pastor of a church."

Over the last decade, more than 1,000 women volunteers have been raped or sexually assaulted while serving in the Peace Corps.




Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: January, 2011; Peace Corps Benin; Directory of Benin RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Benin RPCVs; Safety and Security of Volunteers; Crime; Murder





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




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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
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.

How Volunteers Remember Sarge Date: January 18 2011 No: 1487 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."

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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"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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Story Source: KESQ

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Benin; Safety; Crime; Murder;

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