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22 U.S.C. §§ 2507b–2507g

6 sections in range

§2507b. Sexual assault policy

22 U.S.C. § 2507b

(a)
In general— The President shall develop and implement a comprehensive sexual assault policy that—
(1)
includes a system for restricted and unrestricted reporting of sexual assault;
(2)
mandates, for each Peace Corps country program, the designation of a Sexual Assault Response Liaison (SARL), who shall receive comprehensive training on procedures to respond to reports of sexual assault, with duties including ensuring that volunteers who are victims of sexual assault are moved to a safe environment and accompanying victims through the in-country response at the request of the victim;
(3)
requires any employee of the Peace Corps to immediately contact a Victim’s Advocate upon receiving a report of sexual assault in accordance with the restricted and unrestricted reporting guidelines promulgated by the Peace Corps and require the Peace Corps to designate the staff at each post who shall be responsible for providing the services described in subsection (c);
(4)
to the extent practicable, conforms to best practices in the sexual assault field;
(5)
is applicable to all posts at which volunteers serve;
(6)
includes a guarantee that volunteers will not suffer loss of living allowances for reporting a sexual assault;
(7)
maintains a record documenting the resignation of any employee or volunteer of the Peace Corps who resigns before a determination has been made regarding an alleged violation of the sexual misconduct policy or other serious policy violations;
(8)
takes into account the record maintained under paragraph (7) before such employee or volunteer is hired, enrolled, or otherwise invited to work with the Peace Corps;
(9)
provides orientation or information regarding the awareness and prevention of sexual assault and sexual harassment to—
(A)
Peace Corps-selected host families; and
(B)
a designated person of authority at the volunteer’s initial workplace; and
(10)
ensures, to the extent practicable and appropriate, that any assault on, or any harm or injury to, a volunteer that is committed by any member of a host family or any national of a host country that was assigned by the Peace Corps to facilitate volunteer work is—
(A)
documented in an appropriate site history file and in the global tracking and recording system established pursuant to section 2507h(c) of this title; and
(B)
taken into account with respect to determinations regarding placements of future volunteers at such post and the provision of any funds or other benefit by the Peace Corps.
(b)
Development and consultation with experts— In developing the sexual assault policy under subsection (a), the President shall consult with and incorporate, as appropriate, the recommendations and views of experts in the sexual assault field, including experts with international experience.
(c)
Elements— The sexual assault policy developed under subsection (a) shall include, at a minimum, the following services with respect to a volunteer who has been a victim of sexual assault:
(1)
The option of pursuing either restricted or unrestricted reporting of an assault.
(2)
Provision of a SARL and Victim’s Advocate to the volunteer.
(3)
At a volunteer’s discretion, provision of a sexual assault forensic exam in accordance with applicable host country law.
(4)
If necessary, the provision of emergency health care, including a mechanism for such volunteer to evaluate such provider.
(5)
If necessary, the provision of counseling and psychiatric medication.
(6)
Completion of a safety and treatment plan with the volunteer, if necessary.
(7)
Evacuation of such volunteer for medical treatment, accompanied by a Peace Corps staffer at the request of such volunteer. When evacuated to the United States, such volunteer shall be provided, to the extent practicable, a choice of medical providers including a mechanism for such volunteers to evaluate the provider.
(8)
An explanation to the volunteer of available law enforcement and prosecutorial options, and legal representation.
(d)
Training— The President shall train all staff outside the United States regarding the sexual assault policy developed under subsection (a).
Notes, amendments, and revision history

(Pub. L. 87–293, title I, § 8B, as added Pub. L. 112–57, § 2, Nov. 21, 2011, 125 Stat. 738; amended Pub. L. 115–256, title III, § 303, Oct. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 3657.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 115–256, § 303(1), substituted “any employee of the Peace Corps” for “SARLs” and “Victim’s Advocate” for “Victim Advocate” and inserted “and require the Peace Corps to designate the staff at each post who shall be responsible for providing the services described in subsection (c)” before semicolon at end.

Subsec. (a)(7) to (10). Pub. L. 115–256, § 303(2)–(4), added pars. (7) to (10).

§2507c. Office of Victim Advocacy

22 U.S.C. § 2507c

(a)
Establishment of Office of Victims1 Advocacy—
(1)
In general— The President shall establish an Office of Victim Advocacy in Peace Corps headquarters headed by a full-time Victim’s Advocate who shall report directly to the Director. The Office of Victim Advocacy may deploy personnel abroad when necessary to help assist victims.
(2)
Prohibition— Peace Corps Medical Officers, Safety and Security Officers, and program staff may not serve as Victim’s Advocates. The Victim’s Advocate referred to in paragraph (1) may not have any other duties in the Peace Corps that are not reasonably connected to victim advocacy.
(3)
Exemption— The Victim’s Advocate and any additional Victim’s Advocates shall be exempt from the limitations specified in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (2) and paragraph (5) under section 2506(a) of this title.
(b)
Responsibilities—
(1)
Victims of sexual assault— The Office of Victim Advocacy shall help develop and update the sexual assault risk-reduction and response training described in section 2507a of this title and the sexual assault policy described in section 2507b of this title, ensure that volunteers who are victims of sexual assault receive services specified in section 2507b(c) of this title, and facilitate their access to such services.
(2)
Other crimes— In addition to assisting victims of sexual assault in accordance with paragraph (1), the Office of Victim Advocacy shall assist volunteers who are victims of crime by making such victims aware of the services available to them and facilitating their access to such services.
(3)
Priority— The Office of Victim Advocacy shall give priority to cases involving serious crimes, including sexual assault and stalking.
(c)
Status updates— The Office of Victim Advocacy shall provide to volunteers who are victims regular updates on the status of their cases if such volunteers have opted to pursue prosecution.
(d)
Transition— The Office of Victim Advocacy shall assist volunteers who are victims of crime and whose service has terminated in receiving the services specified in section 2507b(c) of this title requested by such volunteer.
(e)
Policymaking— The Director of the Peace Corps shall include the head of the Office of Victim Advocacy in agency-wide policymaking processes in the same manner and to the same extent as the directors or associate directors of other offices within the Peace Corps.

Footnotes

  1. 1 So in original. Probably should be “Victim”.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

(Pub. L. 87–293, title I, § 8C, as added Pub. L. 112–57, § 2, Nov. 21, 2011, 125 Stat. 739; amended Pub. L. 115–256, title III, § 304, Oct. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 3658.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–256, § 304(1), (2), substituted “Victim’s Advocate” for “victim advocate” and “Victim’s Advocates” for “victim advocates” wherever appearing.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 115–256, § 304(3), amended subsec. (e) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “This section shall cease to be effective on October 1, 2018.”

§2507d. Establishment of Sexual Assault Advisory Council

22 U.S.C. § 2507d

(a)
Establishment— There is established a Sexual Assault Advisory Council (in this section referred to as the “Council”).
(b)
Membership— The Council shall be composed of not fewer than 8 and not more than 14 individuals selected by the President who are returned volunteers (including volunteers who were victims of sexual assault and volunteers who were not victims of sexual assault) and governmental and nongovernmental experts and professionals in the sexual assault field. At least one member should be licensed in the field of mental health and have prior experience working as a counselor or therapist providing mental health care to survivors of sexual assault in a victim services agency or organization. No Peace Corps employee shall be a member of the Council. The number of governmental experts appointed to the Council shall not exceed the number of nongovernmental experts.
(c)
Functions; meetings— The Council shall meet not less often than annually to review the sexual assault risk-reduction and response training developed under section 2507a of this title, the sexual assault policy developed and implemented under section 2507b of this title, and such other matters related to sexual assault the Council views as appropriate, to ensure that such training and policy conform to the extent practicable to best practices in the sexual assault field. To carry out this subsection, the Council may conduct case reviews and is authorized to have access, including through interviews, to current and former volunteers (to the extent that such volunteers provide the Peace Corps express consent to be interviewed by the Council), to volunteer surveys under section 2507e of this title, to all data collected from restricted reporting, and to any other information necessary to conduct case reviews, except that the Council may not have access to any personally identifying information associated with such surveys, data, or information.
(d)
Reports— On an annual basis for 5 years after November 21, 2011, and at the discretion of the Council thereafter, the Council shall submit to the President and the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report on its findings based on the reviews conducted pursuant to subsection (c).
(e)
Employee status— Members of the Council shall not be considered employees of the United States Government for any purpose and shall not receive compensation other than reimbursement of travel expenses and per diem allowance in accordance with section 5703 of title 5.
(f)
Nonapplicability of chapter 10 of title 5— Chapter 10 of title 5 shall not apply to the Council.
(g)
Sunset— This section shall cease to be effective on October 1, 2023.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

(Pub. L. 87–293, title I, § 8D, as added Pub. L. 112–57, § 2, Nov. 21, 2011, 125 Stat. 740; amended Pub. L. 115–256, title III, § 305, Oct. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 3658; Pub. L. 117–286, § 4(a)(168), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4324.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2022—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 117–286 substituted “chapter 10 of title 5” for “FACA” in heading and “Chapter 10 of title 5” for “The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.)” in text.

2018—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 115–256, § 305(1), substituted “not fewer than 8 and not more than 14 individuals selected by the President” for “not less than 8 individuals selected by the President, not later than 180 days after November 21, 2011,” and inserted “At least one member should be licensed in the field of mental health and have prior experience working as a counselor or therapist providing mental health care to survivors of sexual assault in a victim services agency or organization.” after “sexual assault field.”

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 115–256, § 305(2), inserted “and implemented” after “sexual assault policy developed” and inserted at end “To carry out this subsection, the Council may conduct case reviews and is authorized to have access, including through interviews, to current and former volunteers (to the extent that such volunteers provide the Peace Corps express consent to be interviewed by the Council), to volunteer surveys under section 2705e of this title, to all data collected from restricted reporting, and to any other information necessary to conduct case reviews, except that the Council may not have access to any personally identifying information associated with such surveys, data, or information.”

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 115–256, § 305(3), substituted “2023” for “2018”.

§2507e. Volunteer feedback and Peace Corps review

22 U.S.C. § 2507e

(a)
Monitoring and evaluation— Not later than 1 year after November 21, 2011, the President shall establish goals, metrics, and monitoring and evaluation plans for all Peace Corps programs. Monitoring and evaluation plans shall incorporate best practices from monitoring and evaluation studies and analyses.
(b)
Performance plans and elements— The President shall establish performance plans with performance elements and standards for Peace Corps representatives, ensure that each such plan includes a consideration of the results, with respect to each such representative and the country of service of each such representative, of each survey conducted under subsection (c),,1 and review the performance of Peace Corps representatives not less than annually to determine whether they have met these performance elements and standards. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as limiting the discretion of the President to remove a Peace Corps representative.
(c)
Annual volunteer surveys— Annually through September 30, 2023, the President shall conduct a confidential survey of volunteers regarding the effectiveness of Peace Corps programs and staff and the safety of volunteers. The results shall be provided in aggregate form without identifying information to the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. Results from the annual volunteer survey shall be considered in reviewing the performance of Peace Corps representatives under subsection (b). The President shall publish, on a publicly available website of the Peace Corps, a report summarizing the results of each survey related to volunteer satisfaction in each country in which volunteers serve, and the early termination rate of volunteers serving in each such country. The information published shall be posted in an easily accessible place near the description of the appropriate country and shall be written in an easily understood manner.
(d)
Peace Corps Inspector General— The Inspector General of the Peace Corps shall—
(1)
submit to the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives—
(A)
a report, not later than one year after November 21, 2011, and biennially through September 30, 2018, on reports received from volunteers relating to misconduct, mismanagement, or policy violations of Peace Corps staff, any breaches of the confidentiality of volunteers, and any actions taken to assure the safety of volunteers who provide such reports;
(B)
a report, not later than two years and five years after November 21, 2011, evaluating the effectiveness and implementation of the sexual assault risk-reduction and response training developed under section 2507a of this title and the sexual assault policy developed under section 2507b of this title, including a case review of a statistically significant number of cases; and
(C)
a report, not later than two years after November 21, 2011, describing how Peace Corps representatives are hired, how Peace Corps representatives are terminated, and how Peace Corps representatives hire staff, including an assessment of the implementation of the performance plans described in subsection (b); and
(2)
when conducting audits or evaluations of Peace Corps programs overseas, notify the Director of the Peace Corps about the results of such evaluations, including concerns the Inspector General has noted, if any, about the performance of Peace Corps representatives, for appropriate action.
(e)
Portfolio reviews—
(1)
In general— The President shall, at least once every 3 years, perform a review to evaluate the allocation and delivery of resources across the countries the Peace Corps serves or is considering for service. Such portfolio reviews shall at a minimum include the following with respect to each such country:
(A)
An evaluation of the country’s commitment to the Peace Corps program.
(B)
An analysis of the safety and security of volunteers.
(C)
An evaluation of the country’s need for assistance.
(D)
An analysis of country program costs.
(E)
An evaluation of the effectiveness of management of each post within a country.
(F)
An evaluation of the country’s congruence with the Peace Corp’s2 mission and strategic priorities.
(2)
Briefing— Upon request of the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate or the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, the President shall brief such committees on each portfolio review required under paragraph (1). If requested, each such briefing shall discuss performance measures and sources of data used (such as project status reports, volunteer surveys, impact studies, reports of Inspector General of the Peace Corps, and any relevant external sources) in making the findings and conclusions in such review.

Footnotes

  1. 1 So in original.
  2. 2 So in original. Probably should be “Corps’ ”.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

(Pub. L. 87–293, title I, § 8E, as added Pub. L. 112–57, § 2, Nov. 21, 2011, 125 Stat. 740; amended Pub. L. 115–256, title II, § 202, Oct. 9, 2018, 132 Stat. 3654.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 115–256, § 202(1), inserted “, ensure that each such plan includes a consideration of the results, with respect to each such representative and the country of service of each such representative, of each survey conducted under subsection (c),” after “standards for Peace Corps representatives” and substituted “, and review” for “and shall review”.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 115–256, § 202(2), substituted “2023” for “2018” and “subsection (b)” for “subsection (a)” and inserted at end “The President shall publish, on a publicly available website of the Peace Corps, a report summarizing the results of each survey related to volunteer satisfaction in each country in which volunteers serve, and the early termination rate of volunteers serving in each such country. The information published shall be posted in an easily accessible place near the description of the appropriate country and shall be written in an easily understood manner.”

§2507f. Establishment of a policy on stalking

22 U.S.C. § 2507f

(a)
In general— The President shall develop and implement a comprehensive policy on stalking that—
(1)
requires an immediate, effective, and thorough response from the Peace Corps upon receipt of a report of stalking;
(2)
provides, during training, all Peace Corps volunteers with a point of contact for the reporting of stalking; and
(3)
protects the confidentiality of volunteers who report stalking to the maximum extent practicable.
(b)
Development and consultation with experts— In developing the stalking policy under subsection (a), the President shall consult with and incorporate, as appropriate, the recommendations and views of those with expertise regarding the crime of stalking.
(c)
Training of in-country staff— The President shall provide for the training of all in-country staff regarding the stalking policy developed under subsection (a).
Notes, amendments, and revision history

(Pub. L. 87–293, title I, § 8F, as added Pub. L. 112–57, § 2, Nov. 21, 2011, 125 Stat. 742.)

§2507g. Establishment of a confidentiality protection policy

22 U.S.C. § 2507g

(a)
In general— The President shall establish and maintain a process to allow volunteers to report incidents of misconduct or mismanagement, or violations of any policy, of the Peace Corps in order to protect the confidentiality and safety of such volunteers and of the information reported, and to ensure that such information is acted on appropriately. This process shall conform to existing best practices regarding confidentiality.
(b)
Guidance— The President shall provide additional training to officers and employees of the Peace Corps who have access to information reported by volunteers under subsection (a) in order to protect against the inappropriate disclosures of such information and ensure the safety of such volunteers.
(c)
Penalty— Any Peace Corps volunteer or staff member who is responsible for maintaining confidentiality under subsection (a) and who breaches such duty shall be subject to disciplinary action, including termination, and in the case of a staff member, ineligibility for re-employment with the Peace Corps.
Notes, amendments, and revision history

(Pub. L. 87–293, title I, § 8G, as added Pub. L. 112–57, § 2, Nov. 21, 2011, 125 Stat. 742.)