More than 1,000 young American women have been raped or sexually assaulted in the last decade while serving as Peace Corps volunteers in foreign countries, an ABC News 20/20 investigation has found.
The Peace Corps was created by President John F. Kennedy to help people all over the world. It's one of the most respected organizations on earth.
But on the eve of its 50th anniversary questions are being raised about how safe women are serving overseas following the murder of a volunteer.
Kate Puzey was a beloved Peace Corps volunteer in the African country of Benin when she was murdered. Her family and the people in the village where she served still ask, why would anyone want to kill Kate? The “20/20” investigation uncovers a scandal within the Peace Corps involving Kate's attempt to blow the whistle on a Peace Corps employee she suspected of abusing seventh-grade girls. The organization has been accused of trying to cover up the murder and not protecting its women overseas
In the second part of the investigation, Ross reports that more than 1,000 female Peace Corps volunteers have been raped or sexually assaulted in the last decade. As with the Puzey family, some of the victims say the Peace Corps has sought to cover up the incidents and treated the victims with insensitivity, more concerned with the agency’s image than the volunteers’ health. Peace Corps officials tell “20/20” the agency has a commitment to the safety of its volunteers.
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In some cases, victims say, the Peace Corps has ignored safety concerns and later tried to blame the women who were raped for bringing on the attacks.
But one Cathedral City pastor says serving in the Peace Corps was the highlight of her life.
"I felt very safe in the Peace Corps," said Rev. Dr. Amanda Burr, with United Methodist Church of Palm Springs. She served from 1972 until 1974 in Columbia, South America. She was a nurse in a country that has now become so dangerous that the Peace Corps is no longer there
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