On the recordNovember 1, 2011
On March 12, 2009, Kate Puzey, a 24- year-old native of Cumming, Georgia and Peace Corps volunteer was killed outside of her home in Badjoude, Benin where she worked as an English teacher. She was murdered by a Beninese Peace Corps contract employee after she reported that he had raped and sexually abused students they taught together. Had the legislation we are considering here today, S. 1280, The Kate Puzey Peace Corps Volunteer Protection Act of 2011 been law when Ms. Puzey first arrived in Benin in 2007, it might have saved her life. Today, the Peace Corps does not require its volunteers to receive training in risk reduction or in how to recognize and respond to incidences of sexual assault. And, unlike other federal agencies, Peace Corps volunteers do not enjoy whistleblower protections. It is a shame that it took the untimely death of Ms. Puzey to focus our attention on the necessity of addressing these issues. S.…
