let the peace corps workers carry a sidearm, and shoot the son of a bi..h; of course that would be political incorrect; Our Washington bureaucrats all live in La-La land today !

Definitely not advocating rape and victimization, but just pointing out that any time you go into a bad neighborhood with your guard down, something bad is likely to happen. It's not right, but it's the reality of what a woman should expect anytime she goes into an area where LAW and MORALITY are fuzzy at best. This is true in third world Africa, it's true in the hood. It's true in third world Mexico, it's true in the barrios of LA.

The Peace Corp administrators need to do more to assist the victims of these crimes, and also more to prep them for these third world situations. However, what's an administrator to do when a 21 year old white girl comes crying back from Sierra Leone that she was raped by savages, other than give her a shoulder to cry on?

You should consider yourself LUCKY, not sorry. She could always join the military if she wants to serve. At least that way she could defend herself.

Actually, you are making excuses for rape. As though women don't know they can be raped? This is about seeking justice after the rape and the refusal of Peace Corps officials to act. Reminds me of all the tools who justify rape here in the US with the "well you should have known better than to...--fill in the blank--walk at night, join the military, go out of your house'.

The Peace Corp was always a joke and this just further verifies my perception. Sounds like most places one would go to serve they would need to be "packin" so mind as well join the military. That would also be known as the "Packin' a Piece" Corp.

By the way, Berkley is spelled Berkeley. Thomas was dissing my alma mater but I'll let that go as that school is becoming a perpetual embarrassment. It's one reason my daughter blew off getting admitted there and opting for Stanford.

The Peace Corps was not always a joke. And it should not be eliminated. It should be downsized, streamlined and have managers replaced.

The Peace Corps is not a joke. It's a great organization for people to serve their country without the need to kill. However, there are obvious reforms that need to be put in place and in place fast. The agency is behind. Women should never have to explain rape.

And Thomas409, how does "tenured professor" map to "naive"? Like many first lieutenants were not naive on their initial assignments? Like many
Army privates were not naive but later learned and rose the ranks?

I've met many from the Peace Corps who have done a lot of good and matured since their assignments. I'm sure you've done the same.

ABCDE- If you are going to correct someones spelling maybe you should look at yourself first. "so mind as well join the military" I believe you meant to spell "MIGHT" not "MIND"

Was it Aristotle or someone who said pray for peace but prepare for war. They should be taught hand-to-hand combat and improvised weaponry before going out into the world with their phrasebook and immunization shots. Where there is no lawman there is no law.

The PC has had similar problems for over 40 years. I volunteered in '69, and was assigned to an education program in S. Korea. In the training a group of returned volunteers wanted to talk to us about issues, bur PC management denied them access. There were no discussions of problems we could encounter. We found out that, due to cultural differences, we would probably never be allowed to teach in any classes, but perhaps we could try to influence people while washing lab equipment. The breaking point for me was when then told us of the "incurable" diseases we could catch - it was explained that they were arrest-able and we shouldn't worry because the Govt. would provide us a pill every day for the rest of our lives. I was out of there! The PC was in the business of getting naive young people to go to all sorts of dangerous places. Days later the president of S. Korea had soldiers shoot hundreds of demonstrating students in the University we were supposed to be working in. I am always glad I smartened up and didn't go. These stories of rape are just ongoing reminders that the PC really doesn't care...still.

Someone mentioned that peace corps volunteers should not go to unsafe areas. Unfortunately, those are the areas in most need of their services. First world countries with organized systems of law enforcement do not need the peace corps the way 3rd world places do.

The answer, to me, is twofold. Train the women to defend themselves and implement safe practices such as not walking alone. The other aspect that must change is the treatment that they seem to be receiving from the administration. Rape, regardless of where a woman was or if she was alone etc... is never the fault of the woman. While it is helpful to identify safe practices, the women must never be blamed if they are attacked. It is the fault of the rapist alone.

These women are giving of themselves and taking risks to selflessly help others. They must be protected and supported as much as possible.

@Thomas Only a man could be so uncareing about violence against women, the reference to them being naive and unrealistic has nothing to do with the fact that the Peace Corp does nothing to insure their safety.F-ing people into submission???Really!!Dude that doesn't sound right.

@Ek - if you actually READ the report above you will see plenty of women can be heartless. You just sound like another angry feminist mad that nature robbed you of your testicles.

Victim blaming is wrong no matter what. Why is that we as a society blame women for their victimizations? Do we ever talk about how we know houses are burglarized so it is the homeowners fault that they were robbed? No, we don't ever say that because it sounds stupid "What were you thinking? Owning a TV and other nice things. Don't you know people steal those things?" But we will as a female sexual assault victim, "what were you thinking, working in a country where rape is common?" Like it isn't common here in the US.

Where are the parents of these young PC volunteers? I would make sure my daughter knew exactly what's happening in these 4th world countries and the very high risks involved. The better option is volunteering for service in your own community and helping your neighbors. It's much safer.

Pedestrians always have the right of way, so if I go play on the freeway and get run over I'm a victim right?

That's how a lot of these stories come off. Of course they were victimized but some of them put themselves in bad situations out of SHEER NAIVETE AND STUPIDITY. Of course, I feel sorry for them all the same, but lets not pretend that decisions people make don't have consequences.

This story raises two seperate questions for me. 1.) what good do we do the USA by sending young kids to these stink-hole countries that are lawless and have no respect for the rights of women? We should stop trying to seem so helpful and tell these backwater countries to fix thier own problems and stop sacrificing our own youth for them. 2) Are the people within Peace Corps Admin so desperate to protect their "mission" that they voluntarily sacrifice young victimized girls along the way? It seems they see thier do-gooderism as noble and if they have to lose a few young girls along the way then sobeit.

Beer Mug,

The pedestrian analogy doesn't work, because motorists aren't intentionally out to run over people playing in the streets. And playing in the streets is recreational, not something you're doing to either help people, gain experience, or begin a career.

It doesn't matter if the women was walking, naked as the day she was born, through the worst ghetto, in the poorest most crime ridden African nation. Rape is an INTENTIONAL act, and therefore there is NO legitimate excuse for it or comparative negligence on the part of the victim.

Everyone Else,

What frightens me the most is that this same article has been posted a thousand times. All you have to do is switch out Peace Corp for Pentagon, Navy, Military, University, Workplace... And there are always men on these vines who say the same thing, "Rape is never ok but she really should've (insert blame of victim here)."

The other type that keeps popping up is the "Well females shouldn't be going out/walking/working... alone." While the romantic in me flutters at the chivalry, the pure truth is that remaining locked in my house every night and passing up opportunities (like the PC), because of my fear of rape is NOT A VALID OPTION.

Rape is wrong, wrong, wrong. But, seriously, why do we say women have the right to walk naked through the streets? That really demeans the argument that rape is wrong and women aren't to blame.

Can't they give everyone serving in the PC basic self defense training and pepper spray? They don't have to maim anyone, but they do have the right to protect themselves.

Thomas was rejected in favor of some African natives, and it still burns him something awful 20 years later.

"Your party"- Whose party?

"liberal do-gooders"- Didn't notice, as I only read your first comment. But apparently it was your intent, given how quick you were to zero in on your lame descriptor.

"It's obvious that your party suffers from a severe lack of maturity."- Says the guy who can't post a message without being collapsed.

"Oh, what's the matter, Doh..."- You, not being "mature".

Training? Replacing PC managers? Are you kidding me? There are no consequences for the rapist and the American People are OK with that.

@Sarah -Rape should not happen... that's a given that most people would agree with. Women should be able to walk around naked without having to fear being assaulted... and people should be able to walk down run down areas of a city with money hanging out of their pockets and not be robbed... but it's not reality. You can NOT control what others think of you or keep them from thinking of harming you if that is what they want to do... all you can do is make your safety a priority. I'm not talking about paranoid type fear but be aware of what you do or don'tdo can detrimentally affect you. For instance- get drunk, alone, in a crowd ... the chances are there are a few guys that are looking for a young woman to be 'too drunk' and take advantage of her. Saying the guys shouldn't do it won't change the fact that a few WILL. Unfortunately when dealing with other countries... other cultures, you can't depend on their justice systems to help you, and you certainly can't depend on changing the culture to match ours. What needs to be worked on is awareness of where you are and what can happen, what behavior can deter an attack (they do have research on it), ability to report and have it taken seriously, and implementation of safety protocols, and if you can- ability to get justice.

@bob5ford Military has had the same problem. Rapes, being taken advantage of while drunk and admins that still under-report or make women feel it's their fault in the first place. It's improved SOME but not enough.

@Thomas If your daughter was "allegedly" raped would you tell her she should have known better? Your way of thinking is completely savage and really needs to be eradicated.
Clearly your the one with a "screw loose"

Thomas,

"You read it alright, but if you want to lie about it feel free."- No, I didn't.

"list of character traits for a liberal,..."- Again with your insistent nonsense claiming intimate familiarity with my political mien. Silly person, you have no idea what you're talking about.

"And by the way, I beg..."- Don't beg. It's embarrassingly self-defeating.

"speak volumes about the maturity of the liberals who read and collapsed those posts."- Or perhaps they prefer forum posts that maintain a rational pertinence to the original article, and not contain needless fulmination that tends to only serve your seething insecurities. Frankly, it makes for a better read.

Thomas409, are you trolling? What you state could happen, but is not the context of the events in the article.

Although I agree with a lot of what Thomas has said, it's painful to read because like most uneducated he had to turn it into a liberal vs. whoever thing. Some people just can't see part lib/repub labels and for whatever reason seem to assume quite heavily that if you do not wear their exact same party pin then you're somehow dumber. Well, nothing dumber than that.

Sorry, thomas, could not read your whole post. I'm sorry you're so angry with the world, i'm sure you're a smart, moral man; you just don't know how to communicate effectively. This causes you to resort immidiately to political sides and anger. I hope that someday you get some help with this problem so that others may take you seriously.

Thomas,

No dictionary needed...now I'm embarrassed for you. First, you're projecting your own linguistic limitations by suggesting an "online dictionary/thesaurus" MUST have been used to cull such uncommon, exotic words such as "mien" and "fulmination". In your world, apparently, but not mine. Second, understand the distinction between "its" and "it's". Because when you don't, you end up seeming as intelligent as a "simian flinging poo". Third, it's brainchild, and not "brain-child". More importantly, it is a thought product, plan, or idea originating from a person, and not the person himself(or herself). Now yours was truly a contextual error. Finally, "political mien" is more than contextually appropriate. Not only does it satisfy the context of my message, and quite elegantly too, but it also manages to precipitate your display of cringe-inducing ignorance, which only heightens my insuperable sense of self-satisfaction. Slow-minded person, playing professor with you has grown interminably boring. Not only are you an irascible creature, but a rather dense one too. But like the Chinese say- "Good luck seldom comes in pairs but bad things never walk alone" ...and in your case, forever dragging those well-worn knuckles along that long and lonely path. You tried. You failed. You lose.

Also, thomas, I gave your last post an up-vote to help boost your self esteem and/or confidence. Hopefully this will help encourage you to continue posting your feelings as I'm confident that there are people here that want to read another person who's terribly angry at everyone over nothing.

I assume suggesting sending women into barbaric patriarchal societies that do not value women is a *bad* idea would be construed as sexist and I should not say it.

None the less, something called Peace Corps probably embraces a pacifism philosophy of "turning the other cheek", which can be interpreted as "do it again, I will not resist." So all this is really not that surprising.

I don't suppose it is "ironic" though, that the violence experienced by an activist of "peace" should result in discord and punishment.

The universe is a strange and disturbing place.

Sanescience, I agree.

Thomas, the thesaurus-thumper,

Writing is a bit(a lot) more complex and nuanced than interchanging words, which apparently is your process given this unfortunate(for you) statement- "Mien" is most certainly not synonymous with "affiliation". Google "political mien", marinate on its contextual usage in various publications, then after you've lifted yourself up from your defeat-induced slump, come back and immediately apologize for your burdensome ignorance.

"online dictionary/thesaurus can be a dangerous thing..."- Still projecting, and still losing...your dignity.

"I'm certain that everyone is quite impressed..."- Mostly you, given your obvious resentment-fueled jealousy. Give up, you can't be me. That fate was sealed many, many years ago when two lonely, immunocompromised souls conceived you in the sad throws of libidinous desperation. Now run to your dictionary and relieve yourself of your hopeless confusion.

"with the little boy sitting in his mommy's basement touching himself every time he stumbles upon a BIG word he hasn't tried using before. :-)"- You, not being "mature"...or remotely clever or humorous.

"and one day you, too, can participate in an adult conversation" - Says the guy who's resorted to name-calling, emoticons, and baby talk.

"This is really really pissing you off, isn't it, slugger? :-)"- Says the guy who's resorted to name-calling, emoticons, and baby talk.

"little boy", "Junior", "widdle hand", "slugger", etc.- Clearly, you're boiling with a helpless envy. No wonder those Peace Corps gals wanted nothing to do with you...you're perpetually angry and immature.

Thomas is angry at women because they won't have him.

Thomas is angry at African Natives because they have what he doesn't...women.

Thomas is angry at people who uses words he doesn't understand.

Thomas is one angry not-so-young man.

Thomas- re-read the article and I am sure you will realize it is about the lack of action and concern with regards to how these women were treated when they were raped.

P.S. Your attempt at insulting me made me chuckle.

It's a dirty job, but somebody's got to do it.

No, B; nobody HAS to do it. These people are giving their time, for free, to try and help others. And the abuse that they recieved should in no way be inferred as just something that "comes with the territory." (But Richard - I totally see your point here; knowing this happens would deter me from volunteering with the Peace Corps.) How sad that you can't think beyond a (non) witty one-liner to the heart of the issue in the story.

Where's Mike Rowe when you REALLY need him?

"We do not place Peace Corps volunteers in unsafe environments," Williams told The Times.

Of course they go into unsafe environments. What they are not doing is preparing their volunteers to face the realities they have signed up to face. They don't need an army of victim advocates they need to train their volunteers what to do if they are faced with harm. Self-defense is a start. Educating their volunteers on the realities of the communities they will be stationed in and supporting them in doing their tasks in a guarded and protected station.

The Peace Corps has had this image of feel good do good stuff but the reality is there is real ugliness in the world that these volunteers in particular need to be trained to face in order to stay safe.

The premise is admirable so it seems those who administer the program need to rise to the standard of those who gladly volunteer.

What they need is both. Appropriate education to better prepare them for the realities of working in the Peace Corps and because nothing they can do can truly stop the victimizations compeletly, be prepared to provide support through an advocate who is trained for this. Why only do one when only one will not remedy it. Of course, both will no remedy it either, but will help.

jfl971...what I said is they do not need an "army" of victim advocates. If they will educate the young people going into these areas they can not only do a better job of protecting the volunteers but will need fewer resources to support those who are raped, assaulted or otherwise victimized. If they cannot empower their volunteers to protect themselves they have no right to send them into a dangerous setting.

The Peace Corps should be abolished. It is a waste of the US tax payers money and how much peace have we seen around the world in the last 50 years? It should be disbanded with a lot of other useless and costly programs.

It would be interesting to see the unfolding of the scenarios in the world if there would have been no peace corps.

Erika - Bless you for reaching out and going into dangerous places to try and help other people. I am SO sorry to see that you experienced this - maybe there's a group forming that you can contact to seek some emotional support, as well as raising your voice for this violence that MUST be stopped.

Thank you TinStars. I really am fine now. The part that made me angry about the article is it never occurred to me that the all out war the country director and training director and other in country personnel waged against my character; trying to demonize me, make me out to be a whore, and scrutinizing my every action was indeed a ploy to get me to revoke my claims so they would not evidently have to report the rape to Washington. I went on after the incident, transferred from the country of the assault to another country and completed my service. I was never as bitter as perhaps I should have been about my treatment. I guess what I am mad about is that this treatment of victims seems to be the rule rather than the exception and I wish I hadn't let them make me doubt my own self-worth.

erika...I can't imagine the strength of character you must have to hold on to that for so long. No one has the right to further victimize a person who has been raped.

I admire those who join the Peace Corps...There are wonderful intentions to do a very hard job under already difficult circumstances. It saddens me to think that a Government service agency is sending our young people into dangerous settings without fully preparing them to protect themselves.

I hope the hearing helps the Peace Corp correct their structure to prepare their volunteers for what they truly face.

It would seem that the Peace Corps has some responsibilty here to these female volunteers

....particularly when they send them into any country in Sub-Saharan Africa - where the number of women and children who become victims of rape per capita is the highest in the world

robbopaloobop...I agree. There are many areas of the world, not just Sub-Saharan Africa, where a human life and the components of dignity are not regarded with honor. Anyone who spoke to a victim with malice should feel great shame and probably be relieved of their jobs.

Atrocious attitude on the part of management. It sounds as though additional training needs to begin at the very top of the Peace Corps.

Oh Erika

I am so sorry for what happened to you. No one should have to deal

with something like this.....EVER! God Bless

Erika, please remember it is never, ever, ever under any circumstances your fault. And don't lesson to the clueless that tell you otherwise?

Raping a Peace Core volunteer is accepted as is the continued bullying of our kids. The Peace Core blames the victim just as Public Schools blame victims of a bully. Both conscious decisions by the USA, both accepted for decades by the American People.

Erika - I am truly sorry for what happened to you and the treatment you received. And I agree that the numbers are probably alot higher than the ones being reported.

Bottom line is the Peace Corps should be de-funded now !!! Do it GOP !!!!

Believer-1993650 is 100% right.

I don't care how you cut it, rape is not the fault of the victim. My sympathies for your pain and maybe now you can put it to rest. As for this agency it operates like most of the Government. It does not deal with sexual assault perpetrated either by men or women with anything like the correct procedures. They have miserably failed at just about every assignment they have been given and when it comes to correctly interpreting the cares and concerns of modern times they are still in the 18th century. The only thing that will correct the government is to fire every director, manager, congressman, and anyone else making policy and start over.

What places? Nowadays, dangerous places exist in the U.S. too.

Way to blame the victim.

Yes, every place a PCV goes is dangerous, because it is unknown. It's the same if you move to a new city in the U.S. though. However, if a PCV uses some "streetsmarts" (and I lived in the bush for two years), some situations are more easily (not completely) avoided. These women did not deserve to be raped though, or made to feel as if it were their fault. And the PCV's walking around with mulatto babies comment is complete b/s, sexist, and racist.

Yet 1,100 rapes are occurring in Congo every day... thats 400,000 per year!

Perhaps we should start by no longer accepting it in the U.S. One out of every three women in America are a victim of sexual assault.

The organization WON"T be shaken up. Nothing will change. It's GOVERNMENT remember.

In fact, the Peace Corps has lagged behind other federal government agencies that actively promote education on sexual harrassment and where it can go. Not that all of the government is pristine and has not had problems. But they have programs in place to deal with these issues, and usually help a lot of people with various sexual issues, meaning of course, rape too. More than the private sector tends to help in similar matters.

The "blame the victim" mentatlity is pervasive everywhere when it comes to rape. Read my first post that addresses it.

Yes, the 'blame-it' mentality is so historic that it seems to be genetic. Still, the U.S. federal government programs on sexual problems are the best in history so far (unless there are any in Europe that I do not know about.) However, at this time the government is notorious for where it failed in these issues. The news as made that happen - rightly so. Still, the programs are there and work when used.

Kathy, you are so right. However, I can see it now...American citizens screaming "foul" when two women kill a poor man from a third world country and the proof that they will have to come up with proving "alleged" rape.

Blame the victim?? I don't think so. Why justify rape? This is disgusting.

Don't be stupid on purpose! I would NEVER blame the victim, that is sick. What I am saying is--- you go into countries that have a history of this, then guess what it might happen, take extreme care of don't go

Get us out of the peace corps business. Leave the missionary work to the churches.

The victim is NOT responsible for the actions of the abuser. However! There is something to be said for being prepared for the environment and situations you may be put in. A young person (regardless of gender) should be apprehensive of being alone in a foreign country. Hello!! Let's use a little common sense here. People have this idea that the locals are just so appreciative of every little thing the PC does and don't realize the danger they are putting themselves in. It only makes sense that people be stationed in groups, travel in groups, never have less than 3 or 4 people out and about at any time. If you are stationed alone, whoever put you there is asking for trouble. But what do they care? They're not the one who is in danger. Now they're trying to hide behind the their name/reputation and gov't. People need to be called out on this just like the Navy was with the "TailHook" incident.

Many want to shut all churches down, then what?

Standard military doctrine says that when going in harms way, bring your buddies, preferably with air support and LOTS of firepower.

Bingo

Well that'd be anywhere in the world including this country. I don't think women should have to hide in their houses because they will be victimized and then victimized again when they try to do something about it (and then belittled by others for daring to think they have any rights at all.)

Well that'd be anywhere in the world including this country.

You have no clue, please spare us any more of your cluelessness. You must be one of those professional victims. Whatever...

AP?

Anywhere in the world? Really? In the US I do not seek packs of men going around raping women like they do in the Congo.

If females are going to serve in the Peace Corps, they should be educated, trained on the different cultures and attitudes that they will face. Maybe then they won't be so naive and have their guard up in the areas that are prone to have a disgust for women.

The statistics state that 1 in 3 women in the USA are victims of sexually assault. It has also been reported that as many as 1 in 7 men have been sexually assaulted but it is difficult to get men/boys to report sexually assault so the true number is unknown. As a woman, I am always aware that there is a chance of being assaulted. I take resonable precations, but just walking to my car after work can result in an assault. To live your entire life on guard because men in general, still feel that women are less then, puts us right with the worst of any country on this issue. We have access to education, communication, stable government and a a legal system so we have no excuse that the women here should live in fear once the sun goes down.

UpNorth, it's 1-IN-4. That's the slogan for sexual assault and rape in the U.S. but that definition is not the same as it is in the 3rd world countries these naive women volunteer to go to. In the U.S., a GREAT amount of these cases are college party, alcohol related incidents with girls full of regret the next day so they call it rape. Yes, I know rape happens here a lot but do not put it on the scale of rape in the 3rd world. In the U.S., sexual assault is mostly if a chick gets her ass or boob grabbed. In the 3rd world, sexual assault is mostly if a chick gets held down, stomped on, beaten, and choked while 10 men take turns brutally ripping and tearing her vagina apart while sinking their teeth into her breast in a blood filled frenzy.

Not the same. Stay out of the kitchen. Even doing a two women buddy system wouldnt help. Send them elsewhere.

upnorth;

I am very well up to date on the statistics of rape in the US. As an officer our education and training ensures that we know such things.

My comment was based on AP's naive thinking that rape incidents in other countries are like the US. I can guarantee you that in other countries incidents of rape are higher and it isn't sporadic with just one man assaulting one woman.

In other countries, groups of women are raped and the rapes are conducted by groups of men.

Yes, rape is found in the US, of course it is. I'm not ignorant. My point was that it isn't a way of life here as it is in the third world countries.

You shoudl work for the peace corps. You sound like the same uncompassionate type person they hire.

better yet threaten them with stopping all aid to there country un less the perpetrators are brought to justice. they will drag them into the street and kill them, sends a clear message to the rest that this will not be tolerated. problem almost solved except for that dipstick in DC who needs to do a little jail time.

Nor should such countries have male volunteers assigned. If the locals won't play fair, don't insist on their participation at all.

Well I guess that under your very insensitive criteria we should definitely not assign women to the U.S. and yes we do assign Peace Corps Personnel to many places in the U.S. What an ignorant suggestion. Maybe we should not allow women in public. What do you think?

Kathy, so sorry for your loss.

God bless you and may you find peace. I just wanted to say that the girls "suffered" NOT at the hands of the rapests, nearly as much as they suffered at the hands of the Peace Corps personnel that they came to for help. This is a wonderful program, but, like any organization that has been around for a while, it needs to step back and look at all their policies and adapt to the needs of their Corps. What happened to those girls in their own country is despicable and shouldn't happen to anyone.

Kathy, I am so sorry for your loss. Obviously your daughter was caring and brave to even go. Yes, PC does need to have some review and modification for safety of female volunteers.

Dear Kathy,

I am so sorry for your tremendous loss. Your daughter must have been a very caring person, there are no words. They should most certainly protect these young women, it is their duty. These young people should be able to count on the organization they are volunteering for to protect them at the best of their abilities. They have failed. God bless.

So many people on this site keep talking about the rape...that is NOT what the post is about, nor what the women were complaining about...stuff happens...we all know that...it's what happens afterwards that is important and the Peace Corps not only dropped the ball, but made these girls feel as though they were responsible...geez, I thought this kind of thinking died a while ago...guess not...this organization needs to clean house and do some serious soul-searching.

Actually, that is not all the article is about. Read it again.

@Portia - The article is about (3) things:

1. The high number of incidents,

2. The incidents have went unreported or under-reported outside of the PC,

3. The women were further victimized by the PC itself.

and you were right on the nose with you're final statement: "this organization needs to clean house and do some serious soul-searching"

Chris, it was about that and more--how they are victimized by the male half of the people they are trying to help and then, again, by the people who are supposed to support them. However, I stand by what I said.

Nanamouse - Generalize much?

@Kit Hope--every time I write a comment of the sort I did, I get at least one response like yours. Usually it's from a man who has been passed over for a promotion or not gotten a job that was given to a woman or some guy who is having issues with child support and custody and is now convinced that the entire world is pro-woman and anti-man. These men seem to have an amazing capacity for completely ignoring every news article, piece of research or statistic that discusses women's status in the world, the disparate proportion of men vs. women in prison, particularly for violence against women and children, and the sheer numbers of women and children who are raped, beaten, stolen, trafficked and enslaved--particularly in comparison to men.

I am hardly saying that men don't suffer, nor do I, in fact, think it's fair when a qualified caucasian man does not get a job or a place in college or a father never gets to see his kids but still has to pay a small fortune in child support, but letting one's anger get in the way of facing the true nature of the world just narrows one's perspective to the point where the perception of reality gets profoundly skewed.

Because a woman could never be raped here in the USA???

No because we don't need to look any further than our own back yard if we feel the need to help someone. When American's are going hungry and living in squalid conditions and are over-looked by these do-gooder organizations for foreign shores, you have to wonder why. Like the UN, there is a lot more going on and a lot of money going into pockets that they don't want anyone knowing about. But the US and their trillion dollar deficit just keeps throwing good money after bad.

Rape in the USA is a crime. In Africa its just part of the culture.

You speak like Africa is a country. Africa is continent with many different cultures, ideas etc. Not every culture in is like the Congo (which everyone seems to be picking on).

Absolutely...NAME and SHAME them!

This story is so infuriating - how many women need to be raped before the Peace Corps does something more to protect their volunteers? Nevermind they want to put in place more victim advocates... how about protecting them better in the first place!! Those Peace Corps managers who brushed aside these horrible rapes and other crimes should be Fired!! I agree their names should be listed to shame them and then fire them.

That won't happen (to publish the names of the officials). The 5 year rule means in and out. They make the mistakes and messes, then move over to USAID who has the same 5 year rule. The Country Directors all know each other! They greet each other with a wink each time then move jobs back and forth until they die. Its a self-feeding system!

No one gets fired in Peace Corps staff. They 'resign' then sit out their waiting period (one must 'stay away' as long as they worked) to get re-tread back into PC or USAID. By then, all memories are gone.

Like who?

Want to bet that many of these private organizations were either started or inspired by PCV's or RPCV's?

No, they are not doing the same thing. Each organization has its own agenda even if the services provided may be similar.

Right! Cut any and all federal funding for PC in its entirety and do it now.

And this should apply to all Americans traveling in the third world, not just women from the Peace Corps.

Not just the third world. People traveling in the second world, and the more dangerous parts of the first world need to be careful as well. To survive, you need to have the reputation as the most dangerous person in the room. Whether that's through your own prowess, or through the number of vengeful family members, or through the police and military responses of your nation, it still has to be known, mess with you and all manner of hell will rain down on the heads of the perpetrators.

The British Colonial Empire understood this. An Englishwoman could go anywhere in the British Empire with a relative lack of fear, because the natives feared the British response if anything happened to her. Bush and Obama have taken steps to reintroduce that fear with respect to Americans, but there are many natives yet to be blown to bits to make the message strong enough to safely let American college girls wander the world alone.

You know, JohnCarter, I was thinking something along the same lines as you. What if the Peace Corp only sent volunteers out in small groups, & armed each member, I'm thinking something a little more persuasive than pepper spray? 9mm, 12 ga., 7.62x39, whatever seems most appropriate for the country & situation. I'm wondering if maybe it wouldn't take too many forceful examples to enlighten the local thugs as to what'll happen if you attack the nice PC people. One dead would-be rapist might change the minds of a lot of other would-be rapists. Not a nice thing to say, but I reckon the world's not always a real nice place to be.

That would just get them all killed. Several villages would band together to kill the abominations. To them, women acting like men really are abominations.

The British Empire employed overwhelming force, at least regimental strength, to put the fear of god in the savages, slaughtering them by the thousands, burning their villages, etc.