Most Peace Corps volunteers in Nepal reported feeling safe where they lived and worked in 2025. However, a new agency report also highlights ongoing concerns regarding sexual harassment, early departures, and a small number of reported crimes. The June 2026 data release noted that 96% of respondents felt safe or very safe where they lived, while 99% reported feeling the same about their workplaces.
The report, titled Nepal Crime, Harassment, and Early Termination Data, is based on the Peace Corps’ 2025 Annual Volunteer Survey and its security reporting systems. It is designed to inform prospective volunteers and the public about safety perceptions, harassment, early terminations, and crimes disclosed by volunteers and trainees.
Sexual harassment remained one of the most notable issues in the Nepal post’s data. Among volunteers who answered the survey’s harassment questions, the most commonly reported experiences were catcalling and unwelcome sexual advances.
The survey showed that while 57% of respondents said they never experienced catcalling, 43% reported experiencing it at least occasionally. This included 1% who experienced it daily, 11% weekly, 12% monthly, 6% about four times a year, and 10% less than four times a year.
For unwelcome sexual advances, 61% said they never experienced them, while 39% reported them at some frequency: 6% weekly, 5% monthly, 9% four times a year, and 14% less than four times a year.
Volunteers also reported instances of shared sexual jokes or images, derogatory comments, and, to a lesser extent, exposure incidents. The report stated that 64% never experienced sexual jokes or images, 76% never experienced derogatory comments, and 93% never experienced exposure incidents.
When volunteers were asked who most often offended them, strangers were the most common answer at 51%, followed by other host country nationals at 31%.
The report noted that sexual harassment most frequently occurred on streets or sidewalks, which accounted for 66% of responses. Smaller shares of respondents cited homes, nightclubs or bars, online platforms, public transportation, and workplaces.
Insensitive comments, harassment, and discrimination also appeared in the survey results. The most frequently cited categories for these behaviors included marital status, weight, sex, and race, color, or ethnicity.
Despite the harassment findings, volunteers gave fairly strong marks to Peace Corps training and support. Nepal’s average ratings ranged from 3.8 to 4.1 out of 5 on questions regarding identifying and reporting harassment, learning coping strategies, feeling comfortable seeking help, confidence in the Peace Corps’ response, and access to resources.
The highest score, 4.1, was awarded to the statement that the Peace Corps provides adequate training on identifying and reporting sexual harassment. The lowest score, 3.8, reflected volunteers’ confidence in the Peace Corps’ ability to effectively address reports of harassment.
The report stated that 24 volunteers ended their service early in Nepal in 2025. Resignations accounted for 54% of those departures, while 38% were for medical reasons. Interrupted service and administrative separation each accounted for 4%.
The Peace Corps noted that volunteers may leave early for any number of reasons, including illness, safety concerns, or a decision to return to school.
The agency recorded five crimes in Nepal during fiscal year 2025. These included one non-aggravated sexual assault, two non-aggravated physical assaults, and two thefts. There were no reports of rape, aggravated sexual assault, kidnapping, robbery, aggravated physical assault, threats, burglary, or vandalism.
The report also compared Nepal’s post-level incidence rates against broader regional and global Peace Corps data. It stated that Nepal’s non-aggravated physical assault rate was higher than both the Europe, Mediterranean, and Asia regional rate and the global average. Meanwhile, the theft rate was higher than the regional average but lower than the global rate.
The report notes that the Peace Corps uses this data to evaluate security and community placement, and that its crime definitions may be broader than standard criminal definitions used in the United States or host countries.
The agency also cautioned that the post-level findings are based on a relatively small sample size, meaning regional and global comparisons may not line up perfectly with Nepal’s specific results.
Susan Shrestha
View More PostsSusan Shrestha is a Europe-based journalist. He covers a wide range of topics, from local matters to global affairs. Shrestha previously worked as a reporter for Khasokhas in Nepal.
