On November 1, the House passed, 406-0, the Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act (S. 1280). The Senate cleared the measure on September 26 (see The Source, 9/30/11); the House Foreign Affairs Committee approved a similar version of the legislation (H.R. 2337) on September 21 (see The Source, 9/23/11). The president is expected to sign the bill into law.
The bill would improve the preventive and response measures taken by the Peace Corps to protect its volunteers from violence, including sexual assault and rape. Specifically, the legislation would require the Peace Corps to develop a comprehensive risk-reduction and response training program that is based upon best practices in the sexual assault field and that would be incorporated into the overall training process for Peace Corps volunteers.
The Peace Corps would be required to develop and implement a comprehensive sexual assault policy that would protect the confidentiality of a victim until such time that she or he decides to pursue “unrestricted reporting.” Sexual Assault Victims Support Liaisons would be required in each country in which the Peace Corps operates and would serve as the “first point of contact” for volunteers in the respective countries. The plan would provide volunteers with “a safety and treatment plan; a sexual assault forensic evidence examination in accordance with applicable law; emergency health care services; evacuation for medical treatment; and legal representation and an explanation of available law enforcement and prosecutorial options.”
The legislation also would establish an Office of Victims Advocacy, which would help volunteers get the necessary services in the event of an assault, and a Sexual Assault Advisory Council that would review the Peace Corps’ sexual assault policy and training program as necessary.
