Change.org Joins First Response Action Efforts

Change.org has taken an interest in First Response Action’s efforts to advocate for an improved response from Peace Corps for Volunteers. They launched a petition today advocating for  proposed legislation to cement changes to support Peace Corps Volunteers who are victimized. You can sign and share the petition here: http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-peace-corps-protect-volunteers-back-anti-sexual-violence-legislation. They already received 1,432 signatures in the last 24 hours!

Members of First Response Action recently spoke with Peace Corps staff members and they shared their improvements within the organizaton. Those improvements to support Volunteers and victims of sexual and physical violence are listed here in a post they created to celebrate the steps Peace Corps has taken to improve training and response. There are many steps yet to be taken, accordding to First Response Action, but these initial improvements are a good sign. The post was also in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, which is April.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee is tentatively scheduled to have a hearing on May 11th on the issue of sexual and physical violence in Peace Corps. Hearings are typically confirmed 7 days ahead of the hearing.  Please watch www.firstresponseaction.org, or their blog, http://firstresponseaction.blogspot.com, for updates. They are looking for a ‘huge turnout’ of RPCV supporters at the hearing! Let them know if you are interested in attending the hearing.

First Response Action Coalition
Casey Frazee, Founder, First Response Action
www.firstresponseaction.org
http://firstresponseaction.blogspot.com