So, the Peace Corps in Washington doesn't seem to be too pleased. We all received a text today alerting us that an official response was up on the website. I got myself to the cyber cafe and found this:
ABC's program is deeply troubling and does not accurately reflect Peace Corps' unwavering commitment to our volunteers. The health and safety of our volunteers is the single most important priority for our agency. We are consistently reviewing and improving our global operations to ensure that we are doing our best to keep our volunteers healthy, safe and productive.
"We cannot comment on the ongoing investigation into the 2009 murder of volunteer Kate Puzey in Benin or do anything else that could risk compromising that investigation or the possibility of a successful prosecution. Peace Corps does not have a role in the ongoing investigation, but we have been assured that the Benin government is supporting the legal process necessary to conclude the investigation and begin a trial. The Department of State and the FBI have been working with the Benin authorities.
"Kate represented the best America has to offer the world with her dedication to her community and commitment to public service. Kate's death was a tragic loss for the Peace Corps. We continue to grieve with the Puzey family and Kate's friends. It is my sincere hope that justice is served both for Kate and her family. I would like to offer my apologies to the Puzey family if either the former leadership or the agency under my direction could have been more compassionate. Personally, it is heartbreaking to learn that they ever felt abandoned by the Peace Corps. This has never been our intent.
"Under my leadership, the Peace Corps has been implementing reforms to enhance the quality of Peace Corps service. These reforms include strengthening all health and safety measures. We do everything we can to keep our volunteers safe, and for those who sadly fall victim to crime, we do everything we can to support them in their recovery. The women interviewed by 20/20 are courageous and strong. Their stories are heartbreaking. Since their service, Peace Corps has improved sexual assault prevention procedures and practices, and we will continue to be responsive to the victims of assault and provide comprehensive care.
"We will never be able to eliminate volunteers' exposure to crimes overseas, but we will work continuously to maximize the safety and health systems supporting our volunteers. This is my pledge to Americans serving today and to the volunteers of tomorrow."
"We cannot comment on the ongoing investigation into the 2009 murder of volunteer Kate Puzey in Benin or do anything else that could risk compromising that investigation or the possibility of a successful prosecution. Peace Corps does not have a role in the ongoing investigation, but we have been assured that the Benin government is supporting the legal process necessary to conclude the investigation and begin a trial. The Department of State and the FBI have been working with the Benin authorities.
"Kate represented the best America has to offer the world with her dedication to her community and commitment to public service. Kate's death was a tragic loss for the Peace Corps. We continue to grieve with the Puzey family and Kate's friends. It is my sincere hope that justice is served both for Kate and her family. I would like to offer my apologies to the Puzey family if either the former leadership or the agency under my direction could have been more compassionate. Personally, it is heartbreaking to learn that they ever felt abandoned by the Peace Corps. This has never been our intent.
"Under my leadership, the Peace Corps has been implementing reforms to enhance the quality of Peace Corps service. These reforms include strengthening all health and safety measures. We do everything we can to keep our volunteers safe, and for those who sadly fall victim to crime, we do everything we can to support them in their recovery. The women interviewed by 20/20 are courageous and strong. Their stories are heartbreaking. Since their service, Peace Corps has improved sexual assault prevention procedures and practices, and we will continue to be responsive to the victims of assault and provide comprehensive care.
"We will never be able to eliminate volunteers' exposure to crimes overseas, but we will work continuously to maximize the safety and health systems supporting our volunteers. This is my pledge to Americans serving today and to the volunteers of tomorrow."
The Peace Corps released their initial statement to ABC 20/20 as well as a response and you can find it here:
"January 11, 2011
During the production of your story and the interview with Deputy Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet, thePeace Corps has made it clear that, in the interest of justice for Kate Puzey and her family, we will not comment on the ongoing investigation into the murder of Kate Puzey or do anything else that could risk compromising that investigation or any prosecution of the case.
It is understandable that the Puzey family wants more information about what happened to their daughter.
Kate’s family has our deepest sympathies for their tragic loss, and the Peace Corps is united with the Puzey family in the pursuit of justice for Kate. We have also put into place new protocols that respond to the concerns expressed by the Puzeys on how the agency supports the families of fallen volunteers. Peace Corps does not have a role in the ongoing investigation, but we have been assured that the Benin government is supporting the legal process necessary to conclude the investigation and begin a trial. The Department of State and the FBI have been working with the Benin authorities.
Peace Corps manages a comprehensive approach to volunteer safety and security. We always are working to improve and strengthen our training and operations for our staff and volunteers abroad. We will never be able to entirely eliminate volunteers’ exposure to crimes overseas, but we will continue to do our best to make Peace Corps a safe and productive experience for the Americans serving as volunteers today and in the future.
A second component to your story covers the concerns of Peace Corps volunteers who have been raped or sexually assaulted while serving abroad. When anything happens to one of our volunteers, we do our best to offer comprehensive support through medical, counseling, and legal services. We are unwavering in our efforts to strengthen our approach to volunteer safety and security.
Since August 2009, when Aaron Williams became Director of the Peace Corps, the agency has put into place measures to improve our security and support operations. The Peace Corps has developed an enhanced agency wide sexual assault prevention and response strategy. This plan is designed to expand the depth and breadth of the agency’s ability and commitment to prevent and respond to sexual assaults. Accordingly, we have undertaken a comprehensive study of best practices in the field of sexual assault prevention, met with leaders in the field of
rape prevention and response, written new guidelines for responding to rapes and major sexual assaults for use by overseas staff, developed a statement of Peace Corps’ commitment to victims of sexual assault, and updated the agency’s incident reporting system.
Although we have made significant progress in strengthening our security and support operations, we know that more needs to be done. We are committed to implementing additional reforms this year and in the future to improve all aspects of volunteer service. As we proceed, we will keep listening to our volunteers and returned volunteers. In addition, we will continue to seek advice and counsel from outside experts and other government agencies on how to improve our security and support systems.
Peace Corps is proud that the vast majority of volunteers feel safe in the areas where they live and work. According to the 2010 Annual Volunteer Survey, 87 percent of our volunteers reported that they were usually safe or very safe where they live and 91 percent reported the same where they work. Peace Corps remains firmly committed to the safety and security of our volunteers. It is our top priority. If ABC News’ 20/20 needs more information on our global operations as you edit your piece, we are available to provide additional data and information to ensure that your program is fair and accurate."
So I don't really want to editorialize too much, but damn, man. I think the Peace Corps fucked up with both the initial situation and the handling of her death. I continue to be surprised that this program stayed open at all. When a trial didn't happen in November, we should have left then. We should have said "Benin, take care of this and if you don't, we're gone."
There is a fundamental difference between Beninese law and the American concept of justice. We believe we should have a fair trial and the guilty should be made to reap what they have sewn. Innocent until proven guilty. Here you're guilty unless proven innocent and since there is little doubt of the killers' participation in the crime, the Benin government feels that justice is being served by having them just rot away in jail without seeing trial. But that's not very American, and shouldn't the murder of an American volunteer have some sort of American concept of justice as closure for her family and a nation? We want a trial, it would be easy as pie for a trial to happen. I'm at the point where I am going to write a fucking letter to Hillary Clinton with 100 signatures of current Peace Corps Benin volunteers urging her to make a call that could completely get things going here. It's about damn time...and now I'm done with my comments haha.
Thoughts? Concerns?
Hi Elaina,
ReplyDeleteI learned about Kate a few months ago from some RPCV friends of mine. Then I found your blog when I was trying to find some answers. I was brought to tears. It is tragic.
Although the Peace Corps is an amazing organization and a unique one, I truly believe that this whole thing was handled so poorly it is appalling. My heart goes out to the Puzey family.
My heart also goes out to you. Please be safe in your time in Benin. I agree with you that there should be some ultimatums or consequences to how the investigation and trial is being handled over there. Pressure should be put on the the investigation by the Peace Corps in the form of potentially ending the program.
At the same time, the innocent citizens of Benin who benefit from the PC program shouldn't have to suffer because of this and their government. I'm really just a layman talking about this from another country with no exposure to their ways or government. I only hope for justice and safety for all the PC volunteers.
You are incredible and what you do is awe-inspiring. Just be safe.
~Shreena
http://shreenab.blogspot.com/
Thanks Shreena! You're totally right. A lot of folks think the PC Benin program should have shut down after the murder and I tend to agree in that I'm surprised it continued. I'm glad it did in retrospect because I'm proud of the work we're doing in the country, but I honestly thing that at some point we need to pull out if the country refuses to settle this. The Peace Corps is ultimately an agreement between governments and the government of Benin needs to step up and make their people a priority or we won't be there anymore!
ReplyDeleteE
I served in Ouake in 1998 - 2000 less than 5K from Kate's post. I served under Jacques (still really hard to believe he's involved) and under Maria (fromer APCD, not at all hard to beleive she was involved in letting information slip). Sorry to say but I never felt like the PC actually cared what I did, how productive I was, how safe I was, or evern where I was during 2 years of service. The letter to 20/20 is stupid cya government speak.
ReplyDeleteI'm dissappointed that a country that has benefited from American vounteers for now more than 40 years doesn't even have the dignity to see that justice be done for one single volunteer out of many hundreds who tried to help them. Sad for the Peace Corps Program, Sad for the Country of Benin, very sad for the village itself (forever shamed they will be) and most certainly saddest of all for the family of Kate.