tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501419294567207665.post4982839150567066363..comments2024-01-01T18:40:30.350-05:00Comments on Ryan Cooper: Rape in the Peace Corps, ctdRyanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03810858979281766801noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501419294567207665.post-17344008679741339362011-05-12T12:53:30.622-04:002011-05-12T12:53:30.622-04:00I agree, and given some of the situations I have p...I agree, and given some of the situations I have personally witnessed here, your story sounds pretty familiar. I hope that Casey's group can help provide an impetus toward greater accountability throughout the Peace Corps.Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03810858979281766801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4501419294567207665.post-64128113090745875412011-05-12T02:54:27.401-04:002011-05-12T02:54:27.401-04:00In instances in which I am familiar, the Peace Cor...In instances in which I am familiar, the Peace Corps safety and security officer was not the main issue for the security and treatment of a targeted Peace Corps Volunteers. In the particular instance I am referring to in Azerbaijan several volunteers were targeted by the government for trivial reasons and nearly kicked out of the country. From what I've heard, the upper Peace Corps staff, Americans overseeing the whole operation, were primarily concerned with keeping the situation as quiet as possible under the pretext of security for other volunteers although it became quite clear that it was only to avoid PR problems for Peace Corps even at the expense of the volunteers it affected. The volunteers were scolded on several occasions when it became clear that other volunteers might be aware of their difficulties with the government, and there was little if any concern as to how this whole predicament was affecting the targeted volunteers service or how the information was spread in the first place. The whole thing seemed completely unprofessional and after watching the 20/20 special and reading the article from the NYT, it appears that Peace Corps has learned little from their previous blunders and embarrassments. I would hate to see the program cut but it definitely needs to change some of its policies for handling extraordinary situations for Peace Corps Volunteers.Xaricihttp://www.finitefix.comnoreply@blogger.com