Evaluation of Peace Corps/Implementation of Guidelines Related to Volunteer Victims of Rape and Sexual Assault

We recommend that posts conduct annual “all staff” sexual assault training sessions and periodic first responder refresher sessions to ensure all post staff are fully informed of the agency’s sexual assault response policies and understand the response and care protocols.

We recommend that the agency develop sexual assault policy and guidance for other sexual assault (OSA) incidents including procedures for taking reports and responding to the care or support needs of OSA victims, and that it incorporate this guidance into its Response Guidelines.

We recommend that the agency incorporate the following topics into its Response Guidelines and staff training modules: the role of the victim’s advocate, the role of the safety and security coordinator, and the role of the Office of Inspector General for investigating Volunteer sexual assault.

We recommend that the agency clarify notification requirements and align instructions in the Response Guidelines and Medical Technical Guideline 540 to ensure clear and specific instructions for notification of headquarters offices in the aftermath of a Volunteer rape or sexual assault.

We recommend that the agency ensure that all Country Directors, Peace Corps medical officers and staff with a sexual assault response and care role attend annual Response Guidelines training sessions, and that staff participation in training be tracked and documented.