On October 6, the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, and Global Narcotics Affairs held a hearing, “Peace Corps: The Next 50 Years.” This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps’ establishment by President John Kennedy.
“The Peace Corps, as an agency and as a family, is committed to providing the highest quality support and service to volunteers who have been the victims of sexual violence or other crimes,” said Aaron Williams, director of the Peace Corps. From the moment a volunteer first reports a rape or sexual assault we must be ready, willing, and able to provide compassionate and effective support and assistance…As part of the Peace Corps’ victim-centered approach we have put in place systems to allow victims to report sexual assaults and obtain prompt, compassionate assistance without fear of being judged. Dedicated specialists from the medical, mental health, security, and legal fields are available from Peace Corps headquarters to help volunteers, as needed, with the response and recovery process. The Peace Corps’ Counseling and Outreach Unit at headquarters is key to our victim-centered approach to responding to an emergency. Mental health counselors are available to all volunteers for any of their needs, ranging from routine check-ins to coping with major traumatic events. The Counseling and Outreach Unit is trained to deal with emergencies and offers support to both victims and their families. The unit trains Peace Corps medical staff at posts to provide initial emotional support services to all volunteers, including victims of sexual assault. Should a volunteer need specialized care that is beyond the expertise of Peace Corps medical staff, the Peace Corps will provide access to medical professionals who can effectively support the volunteer’s needs…In addition to providing support to victims, the Peace Corps makes every effort to protect volunteers from sexual violence. Both staff and volunteers participate in regular training on safety and security. This training covers a variety of topics related to sexual assault, and other risks that volunteers may face while serving. The Peace Corps has a reporting system to track and analyze safety and security incidents and the data collected is used to instruct our operations and improve volunteer and staff security. When an assault occurs, we work with our partners in host countries to bring perpetrators to justice. Seventy percent of the rapes, attempted rapes and major sexual assaults of Peace Corps volunteers that took place in 2009 and 2010 and were reported to local authorities resulted in arrests. Forty-six percent have resulted in convictions, and a number of other cases are scheduled for trial or still under investigation.”
Kathy Buller, inspector general for the Peace Corps, said, “In response to a 20/20 broadcast earlier this year and a previous congressional hearing, OIG [Office of the Inspector General] has initiated a review of the agency’s guidelines for responding to rape and major sexual assault, which is ongoing. For the purpose of this review, sexual assaults include incidents in three categories: rape (including attempted rape), major sexual assault, and other sexual assault. Our review is assessing: agency guidelines and protocols for responding to a volunteer sexual assault, including the support provided to volunteer survivors; staff training, roles, and responsibilities for responding to volunteer sexual assault; [and] best practices in responding to sexual assaults that would improve the way Peace Corps responds to volunteer sexual assaults and supports victims.” Ms. Buller continued, “The agency has initiated the following:
Ms. Buller added, “We have conducted field work and interviewed staff responsible for the response and care of rape and sexual assault victims worldwide, including at eight Peace Corps posts. We will complete field work in three additional posts as part of this review and hope to issue a preliminary report at the end of next month.”
Elizabeth Odongo, training and outreach director at the DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence and a returned Peace Corps volunteer who had been stalked during her tenure in Guyana, explained, “I am here to thank the Senate for working hard to find a solution to this longstanding and systemic problem, and for passing the Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act [S. 1280], which, if ultimately enacted, will protect future volunteers from the terror and isolation that I, and so many others, have experienced. I also thank Director Williams for working with Congress, diligently and enthusiastically, in this difficult process. Thank you.” Ms. Odongo then explained the provisions of the bill and provided her expert opinion, saying, “First, this bill, championed by Senators [Barbara] Boxer [(D-CA)] and [Johnny] Isakson [(R-GA)], requires the Peace Corps to provide training in important and common sense techniques, like the buddy system and bystander response, and to institute best practices in safety and survivor response. No more volunteers will be dismissed when reporting danger or assault. They will be taken to a safe place, seen by a doctor, provided appropriate mental health care and given the opportunity to prosecute their attacker. Second, the bill creates confidentiality protocols, to ensure volunteers are not put in harm’s way for exposing danger or wrongdoing. No more volunteers will be murdered in their sleep when their perpetrators find out what they’ve reported. They will be protected. Finally, the bill creates accountability and oversight, to ensure these policies are followed. No more staff members who ignore or mistreat survivors will be re-hired or left in positions of authority. Instead, actions will be taken to ensure volunteers can trust those they must report to. You have asked me today to provide you with my professional assessment of this legislation, not just as a former volunteer and rape victim, but as a leading expert in the field of violence against women. I can tell you with confidence, as an expert, that I believe this bill is critical. It will save thousands more from the devastation that has already been suffered by too many.”
Former Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Harris Wofford (D-PA), and Kevin Quigley, president of the National Peace Corps Association, also testified.
