ALICIA A.G. LIMTIACO, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, was invited to be a keynote speaker at the Guam Social Work Conference 2015, “Celebrating Diversity in Micronesia: Empowering and Developing Communities Together," held on March 18-20, 2015. U.S. Attorney Limtiaco also made a presentation, together with Karen Carpenter, a retired professor Emeritus from the University of Guam and presently a Victim Advocate, volunteering at Erica’s House, Victim Advocates Reaching Out, and the Guam Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Family Violence, and a member of the Guam Human Trafficking Task Force.
U.S. Attorney Limtiaco spoke on the topic of “Preventing Human Trafficking in the Pacific Region," and shared information on the Pacific Regional Response to Combat Human Trafficking Initiative (the “Initiative"), which is a collaborative effort among the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Districts of Guam and the NMI; the U.S. Department of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons; U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs; the U.S. Department of Labor; the Guam Human Trafficking Task Force, the NMI Human Trafficking Intervention Coalition; and other community partners. U.S. Attorney Limtiaco also discussed the intersection and relationship between human trafficking, sexual assault, child abuse and domestic and family violence, and prevention and enforcement efforts in the Pacific region.
The Initiative employs a multidisciplinary model, including participation, coordination, and collaboration among law enforcement, prosecution, victim service providers, social services, medical, mental and public health professionals, faith based organizations, educational institutions, Consulates, and other community stakeholders. The Initiative calls for the establishment and provision of victim services, investigation and prosecution of human trafficking, training opportunities, community outreach/ public awareness and prevention programs, and creation of human trafficking task forces and coalitions in the Pacific region island communities. The Initiative also provides fundamental training in human trafficking, including victimization, investigation and prosecution, prevention efforts, and other related topics to law enforcement, prosecution, victim service providers, social services, medical, mental and public health professionals, faith based organizations, educational institutions, Consulates, and other community stakeholders in our Pacific region island communities, which is critical to effective prevention and enforcement efforts in the region.
Victim Advocate Karen Carpenter shared information about how small jurisdictions like Guam with its limited resources can be responsive to the needs of victims of crime, including victims of human trafficking and other forms of abuse and exploitation. The workshop explored how the Initiative was organized, the importance of unique approaches to the problem depending on the jurisdiction, and the implications for other small jurisdictions.
Other keynote speakers at the conference were Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner, a poet, writer, journalist, and word-artist-empowerment activist; Francis Hezel, SJ, a prolific author of many books and articles on the region’s history and culture and founder of the Micronesian Seminar, an educational, social and research institute that engaged in a variety of public awareness programs for the indigenous population; and the Hon. Benjamin Cruz, retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Guam and Vice Speaker of the 33rd Guam Legislature. There were also more than 30 other speakers at the conference.
Approximately 200 participants attended the Guam Social Work Conference 2015.
U.S. Attorney Alicia Limtiaco giving her keynote remarks at the conference
Karen Carpenter and U.S. Attorney Alicia Limtiaco presenting at the conference
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
