Many people believe that within the absence of violence is a presence of peace. Oppression and marginalization may not be as loud or as visible but they are just as devastating to the development of individuals and communities. Human rights will continue to play a critical role in the development of nations. I am leading a needful effort to reform the United States Peace Corps Act of 1961 - to adopt strong human rights provisions - with the establishment of a Human Rights Committee. In the field, volunteers witness all too well the urgency of the situation. Every issue we face on the ground habitually stems from a human rights violation. We must put human rights at the heart of our strategies for development.