Atrocious Truths Regarding Sexual Abuse.

While searching through news articles I stumbled upon an article about the Peace Corps. I planned to join the Peace Corps after college because the idea of helping the human race for a better tomorrow has always rung favorable to me.

“ABC NEWS IINVESTIGATION: Parents of Slain Volunteer Say Peace Corps Error Led to Murder.” This was the title that caught my attention. In this article, family members of Kate Puzey reveal their anger toward the Peace Corps scandal of 2009. Kate stood up for small girls who had come to her with information regarding the multiple rape cases in their village. She relayed the news to the Peace Corps office and requested confidentiality in the circumstances. The rapist was then fired from his position in the Peace Corps to preserve the original purpose of the Peace Corps, to help the world…. Not future hurt it. Despite her request, the rapist found out about her involvement in the expulsion of his indecencies. Kate was later found with her throat slit.

A woman, who is voice to young girls, is murdered and how is it dealt with? The Corps placed a box full of her items in the Puzey driveway. There was no ceremonial display, there was no apology, and there was no acknowledgement. The reason there was no acknowledgement of the Peace Corps slip of confidentiality, was because the perpetrator was still up for trial. A cardboard box was left to the parents of a brave woman.

This led me to The New York Times article, “Peace Corps Volunteers Speak Out on Rape.” This article proceeds to discuss multiple victims due to a sex crime. Jess Smochek, 23-year-old Peace Corps volunteer and rape victim says, “When she returned to the United States, the reception she received from Peace Corps officials was as devastating as the rape itself.” According to this article, upon seeking medical attention, a counselor implied that she was to blame for the attack. Between the years 2000 to 2009, more than 1,000 Peace Corps volunteers reported sexual assaults.

The problem is, it doesn’t matter where you are in the world, a woman has a chance of getting raped, or sexually assaulted in various other ways. On average, every two minutes, someone in the United States is getting raped. The Peace Corps are not the only group to hold victims, however, the response given to the victims provided self-blame, self-loathing, shame, and silence.

Silence when it comes to rape makes it okay for the offender to do it to someone else. The victims of many rapes decided to provide a strong voice for other victims. The Peace Corps has made significant changes to help victims, by providing counseling, medical attention, and safer places.

The Peace Corps is not the issue however, it’s the world. There are more rapes than suspects arrested according to the Los Angeles Police Department. There are also more unknown rapes than there are reported rapes.

This needs to stop. More voices need to be heard.