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Sexual assault victim advocate suspended by Peace Corps Sexual assault victim advocate suspended by Peace Corps
(5 months later)
The first director of victim advocacy at one of the most high-profile volunteer organisations in the US, appointed following government-level concerns about safety, has been suspended and has lodged a formal complaint with the US government.The first director of victim advocacy at one of the most high-profile volunteer organisations in the US, appointed following government-level concerns about safety, has been suspended and has lodged a formal complaint with the US government.
Kellie Greene was appointed into the role at Peace Corps in 2011 following the Kate Puzey Act, a law passed by the US Congress to ensure that the organisation improve its protection of volunteers. The law was named after a 24-year-old who was murdered in Benin while volunteering for Peace Corps, shortly after she reported a local man for sexually assaulting school girls. A 2011 ABC News investigation found that more that 1,000 young women were raped or sexually assaulted while serving as Peace Corps volunteers in the previous decade.Kellie Greene was appointed into the role at Peace Corps in 2011 following the Kate Puzey Act, a law passed by the US Congress to ensure that the organisation improve its protection of volunteers. The law was named after a 24-year-old who was murdered in Benin while volunteering for Peace Corps, shortly after she reported a local man for sexually assaulting school girls. A 2011 ABC News investigation found that more that 1,000 young women were raped or sexually assaulted while serving as Peace Corps volunteers in the previous decade.
The agency does not want a victim advocate that challenges the status quoThe agency does not want a victim advocate that challenges the status quo
Greene believes she made some progress in setting up training and policies to protect victims of sexual assault, but states that her job became more difficult as time went on. In November 2015 Greene was suspended on paid leave, and then put on unpaid leave. Finally on 5 February she was reassigned to another position. A spokesperson for Peace Corps said “the organisation is prohibited by law ... from commenting specifically on a personnel matter”.Greene believes she made some progress in setting up training and policies to protect victims of sexual assault, but states that her job became more difficult as time went on. In November 2015 Greene was suspended on paid leave, and then put on unpaid leave. Finally on 5 February she was reassigned to another position. A spokesperson for Peace Corps said “the organisation is prohibited by law ... from commenting specifically on a personnel matter”.
But a letter to Greene from the organisation that her lawyer made publicly available accuses her of creating “an offensive and negative office environment”. The letter details behaviour that “caused emotional distress” for her staff and includes accounts from other staff members of encounters in which they felt Greene was “bullying”, “disrespectful” and “inappropriate”.But a letter to Greene from the organisation that her lawyer made publicly available accuses her of creating “an offensive and negative office environment”. The letter details behaviour that “caused emotional distress” for her staff and includes accounts from other staff members of encounters in which they felt Greene was “bullying”, “disrespectful” and “inappropriate”.
Greene says that the letter contains inaccuracies, and believes that Peace Corps accuses her of creating a negative environment because “the agency does not want a victim advocate that challenges the status quo … I witnessed and experienced a great deal of resistance and hostility.”Greene says that the letter contains inaccuracies, and believes that Peace Corps accuses her of creating a negative environment because “the agency does not want a victim advocate that challenges the status quo … I witnessed and experienced a great deal of resistance and hostility.”
Greene told the Guardian that the two victim advocates who reported to her, whom she hired, “are very good at what they do, but they are junior in their careers and they don’t push the agency the way that I pushed the agency”.Greene told the Guardian that the two victim advocates who reported to her, whom she hired, “are very good at what they do, but they are junior in their careers and they don’t push the agency the way that I pushed the agency”.
In response to the suggestion that she created a “negative” office environment, Greene’s lawyers sent a letter to Peace Corps which said that they were concerned that the penalty was connected to her work implementing the Kate Puzey Act and that the proposed punishment (being fired) was too harsh for what was alleged. After receiving that letter Peace Corps downgraded Greene’s punishment from contract termination to suspension.In response to the suggestion that she created a “negative” office environment, Greene’s lawyers sent a letter to Peace Corps which said that they were concerned that the penalty was connected to her work implementing the Kate Puzey Act and that the proposed punishment (being fired) was too harsh for what was alleged. After receiving that letter Peace Corps downgraded Greene’s punishment from contract termination to suspension.
Greene filed a whistleblower complaint with the Office of Special Counsel, the department which deals with complaints from government employees in the US. Her lawyer Nina Ren says that she has a strong case. “What has been happening to Kellie is highly suspect,” she said. “We think this is all directly related to her whistleblowing.” Greene has now been appointed as a staff training and development specialist. Peace Corps is currently recruiting for a new director of victim advocacy.Greene filed a whistleblower complaint with the Office of Special Counsel, the department which deals with complaints from government employees in the US. Her lawyer Nina Ren says that she has a strong case. “What has been happening to Kellie is highly suspect,” she said. “We think this is all directly related to her whistleblowing.” Greene has now been appointed as a staff training and development specialist. Peace Corps is currently recruiting for a new director of victim advocacy.
Related: Aid agencies accused of hiding scale of sexual assaults on employees
In Greene’s case, whistleblowing was an essential part of her job. “Her job wasn’t a welcome job,” said Ren. “The job was created by Congress because Peace Corps had a history of failing victims. So there was already a resentment when she came in because she was there to make sure that they did better. Once there was a change in agency leadership, the new director was more interested in internal happiness versus compliance with the law.”In Greene’s case, whistleblowing was an essential part of her job. “Her job wasn’t a welcome job,” said Ren. “The job was created by Congress because Peace Corps had a history of failing victims. So there was already a resentment when she came in because she was there to make sure that they did better. Once there was a change in agency leadership, the new director was more interested in internal happiness versus compliance with the law.”
Greene is concerned that although some progress has been made in improving the situation, she saw a lack of “understanding victimisation”. She said “[Staff] weren’t intentionally acting to harm individuals. But they lacked the skillset and the knowledge to respond in way that was healthy to people who have been victims of sexual assault… They were exhibiting behaviours that were victim-blaming and insensitive. That type of secondary victimisation has long-term lasting effects on the survivors.”Greene is concerned that although some progress has been made in improving the situation, she saw a lack of “understanding victimisation”. She said “[Staff] weren’t intentionally acting to harm individuals. But they lacked the skillset and the knowledge to respond in way that was healthy to people who have been victims of sexual assault… They were exhibiting behaviours that were victim-blaming and insensitive. That type of secondary victimisation has long-term lasting effects on the survivors.”
Ted Poe, one of the congressmen who worked on the Kate Puzey Act, said that Greene might have been suspended because she was asking difficult questions. He pointed out that “part of the law was to have someone exactly like Kellie Greene working in the Peace Corps to make sure that America takes care of its volunteers when they are assaulted”.Ted Poe, one of the congressmen who worked on the Kate Puzey Act, said that Greene might have been suspended because she was asking difficult questions. He pointed out that “part of the law was to have someone exactly like Kellie Greene working in the Peace Corps to make sure that America takes care of its volunteers when they are assaulted”.
Poe got involved in drafting the Kate Puzey Act after Peace Corps volunteers came to him because of his work with the Victims’ Rights Caucus, a bipartisan group in the US Congress that champions the rights of victims of crime. “Peace Corps volunteers would come and say ‘this thing happened to me and the Peace Corps really didn’t take care of me’,” said Poe. “We wrote the law so that when victims are assaulted Peace Corps rescues that individual and takes care of them.”Poe got involved in drafting the Kate Puzey Act after Peace Corps volunteers came to him because of his work with the Victims’ Rights Caucus, a bipartisan group in the US Congress that champions the rights of victims of crime. “Peace Corps volunteers would come and say ‘this thing happened to me and the Peace Corps really didn’t take care of me’,” said Poe. “We wrote the law so that when victims are assaulted Peace Corps rescues that individual and takes care of them.”
Poe is now keeping a watchful eye on Peace Corps to make sure that the Kate Puzey Law makes an impact. “I’ve been around long enough to know that when you have a law passed, it doesn’t do any good unless it’s implemented,” he added.Poe is now keeping a watchful eye on Peace Corps to make sure that the Kate Puzey Law makes an impact. “I’ve been around long enough to know that when you have a law passed, it doesn’t do any good unless it’s implemented,” he added.
Peace Corps, established in 1961 by John F Kennedy, has had many famous volunteers over the years. It currently has around 7,000 volunteers (63% female), many of them young adults just out of college, serving in two-year stints in 60 countries across the world.Peace Corps, established in 1961 by John F Kennedy, has had many famous volunteers over the years. It currently has around 7,000 volunteers (63% female), many of them young adults just out of college, serving in two-year stints in 60 countries across the world.
A spokesperson for the Peace Corps said: “The agency has fully implemented the Kate Puzey Act and established significant new policies and practices that reflect our absolute commitment to reducing risks for volunteers and responding effectively and compassionately when crime occurs.”A spokesperson for the Peace Corps said: “The agency has fully implemented the Kate Puzey Act and established significant new policies and practices that reflect our absolute commitment to reducing risks for volunteers and responding effectively and compassionately when crime occurs.”
She also said that a recent report [pdf] from Peace Corps sexual assault advisory council said: “The council continues to be impressed with the Peace Corps for its dedication to fulfil the mandates of the Kate Puzey Act and for the development of a wide range of programmes and services for volunteers.”She also said that a recent report [pdf] from Peace Corps sexual assault advisory council said: “The council continues to be impressed with the Peace Corps for its dedication to fulfil the mandates of the Kate Puzey Act and for the development of a wide range of programmes and services for volunteers.”
Related: Sexual violence in the aid sector: what should NGOs be doing?
Former volunteer Bonnie Scott, who has also filed a whistleblower complaint with the OSC in response to her own treatment by Peace Corps, said: “I wish they would come clean. Why would you not just admit, we have internal problems and we need to clean it up, and this is what we are going to do about it. Who are they kidding at this point?”Former volunteer Bonnie Scott, who has also filed a whistleblower complaint with the OSC in response to her own treatment by Peace Corps, said: “I wish they would come clean. Why would you not just admit, we have internal problems and we need to clean it up, and this is what we are going to do about it. Who are they kidding at this point?”
• If you are have been affected by the story in this article, Rape Crisis England and Wales or Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network can provide support. If you are not in the UK or the US, Hot Peach Pages provides a directory of gender-based violence organisations all over the world.• If you are have been affected by the story in this article, Rape Crisis England and Wales or Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network can provide support. If you are not in the UK or the US, Hot Peach Pages provides a directory of gender-based violence organisations all over the world.
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