Archive - January 7, 2011

[On December 9, 2010, four of the First Response Action Coalition members met with several Peace Corps officials in Washington, D.C., including the Deputy Director and Chief of Staff.  Peace Corps shared several ways that they are moving forward with items on the 7-Point Plan, including a form of the Survivor Bill of Rights.  Peace Corps committed to follow-up with materials and updates.  Here is a report from that meeting, written by Casey Frazee.] It was a cold, snowy day in Washington, D.C. when four members of the First Response Action Coalition, the volunteer board which manges First Response Action, met with Peace Corps officials at Peace Corps’ headquarters. Representatives from the Office of Medical Services, Safety & Security and the Office of Special Services were in attendance as well as the Chief of Staff, Deputy Director and an official whose position is focused on examining Volunteer and staff sexual assault . . .

This comes to me from Casey Frazee of First Response Action advocates for a stronger Peace Corps response for Volunteers who are survivors or victims of physical and sexual violence. They envision a Peace Corps with policies that reflect best practices in all areas of training, prevention and response. For more information email firstresponseaction@gmail.com • ABC News has been working on several news pieces related to Peace Corps incidents of sexual assault, rape and Kate Puzey, the Volunteer who was murdered in 2009.  The show is scheduled to air next Friday 1/14 on 20/20 at 10 p.m. Eastern Time.  They will also have companion pieces posted on their website, which you can check out here: http://abcnews.go.com/2020.  Coalition members and First Response Action supporters participated in interviews with ABC, which will be part of the show next week.  None of the Coalition members have seen the finished piece, so we welcome . . .