The Peace Corps says it is going to stop blaming victims for their rapes. Did your head swing around as fast as ours did?
In January, an ABC News investigation discovered that the Peace Corps wasn't just insinuating the women in their organization who had been raped could have done something different and prevented their attack. They flat out told their members rape is always the woman's fault. In some cases, victims were even forced to quit.
“Rather than feeling safe and supported, I felt belittled and betrayed,” Jess Smochek, one of the women who came forward, said. “[Then] shortly after I left, the country director, without my permission told the female volunteers I was raped, that it was my fault and that it was always the woman's fault ... The Peace Corps must change. Women must be protected from rape and the callous treatment that too often follows.”
Testimony was given before the House Foreign Affairs Committee in Washington, D.C. Wednesday. The Peace Corps apologized and vowed to make the necessary changes to their training.
“There is no doubt that what these courageous women have done has opened our eyes to what we need to correct and we need to correct it now,” said Peace Corps director Aaron Williams. “Rest assured, this type of thing, blaming the victim, will not continue in the Peace Corps of today.”
In January, an ABC News investigation discovered that the Peace Corps wasn't just insinuating the women in their organization who had been raped could have done something different and prevented their attack. They flat out told their members rape is always the woman's fault. In some cases, victims were even forced to quit.
“Rather than feeling safe and supported, I felt belittled and betrayed,” Jess Smochek, one of the women who came forward, said. “[Then] shortly after I left, the country director, without my permission told the female volunteers I was raped, that it was my fault and that it was always the woman's fault ... The Peace Corps must change. Women must be protected from rape and the callous treatment that too often follows.”
Testimony was given before the House Foreign Affairs Committee in Washington, D.C. Wednesday. The Peace Corps apologized and vowed to make the necessary changes to their training.
“There is no doubt that what these courageous women have done has opened our eyes to what we need to correct and we need to correct it now,” said Peace Corps director Aaron Williams. “Rest assured, this type of thing, blaming the victim, will not continue in the Peace Corps of today.”