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Press Release

U.S. Attorney Alicia A.G. Limtiaco Receives 2013 Visionary Voice Award

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Districts of Guam & the Northern Mariana Islands

Alicia A.G. Limtiaco, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, was awarded the 2013 Visionary Voice Award from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC). The Visionary Voice Award highlights individuals throughout the country who are doing outstanding work in the field of anti-sexual violence within their communities and whose prevention work is making an impact in their communities. This year, the National award honors 26 leaders in sexual violence prevention.

The Guam Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Family Violence (GCASAFV) nominated U.S. Attorney Limtiaco for the 2013 Visionary Voice Award and invited her to the "Proclamation Signing and Remembrance Ceremony" commemorating Sexual Assault Awareness Month, National Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month, and Crime Victims' Rights Week. The Proclamation Signing by the Honorable Ray Tenorio, Acting Governor of Guam, and Remembrance Candle Lighting and Reflection Ceremony honoring all victims of violence and led by the faith based community, were held at the Latte ofFreedom on April1, 2013. GCASAFV Executive Director Cynthia Cabot expressed thanks to U.S. Attorney Limtiaco for building the foundation and presented her with a crystal clock signifying this year's theme of Sexual Assault Awareness Month-- "It's Time ... To Talk About It!"

The GCASAFV nominated U.S. Attorney Limtiaco citing to her over 20 years of commitment and dedication to enforcement, prosecution, public awareness and prevention efforts to combat against and end sexual assault and family violence. Prior to commencing her service as U.S. Attorney in 2010, Limtiaco was the first woman elected to serve as Attorney General of Guam. Limtiaco was an active member of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) and Conference of Western Attorneys General (CW AG), and served as Co-chair of the NAAG Criminal Law Committee and NAAG Youth Access to Alcohol Committee, and as Second Vice Chair of the CW AG Executive Team. She spearheaded certain initiatives including the formation of task forces to address human trafficking; internet crimes against children including sexual exploitation and child pornography; and the implementation and compliance of Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SO RNA) requirements by the Government of Guam. She served as the Chair of the Executive Branch ofthe Family Violence and Sexual Assault Task Force, and was an active member of the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) Steering Committee.

Prior to her tenure as Attorney General, Limtiaco served as acting Chief Prosecutor and as an Assistant Attorney General (Prosecutor) for the Office of the Attorney General. She was the Lead Prosecutor of the Criminal Sexual Conduct and Family Violence Unit, and Co-chair of the Governor's Family Violence Task Force. Limtiaco initiated the drafting and implementation of family violence protocol utilized by the Prosecution Division and Guam Police Department, and assisted in the drafting of the 1994 and 1998 Guam Family Violence Acts, and the Sex Offender Registration and Notification law enacted in 1999.

As U.S. Attorney, Limtiaco is a member of the Attorney General's Advisory Committee (AGAC) Subcommittees/ Working Groups, including the Civil Rights, and Child Exploitation and Obscenity Working Groups. U.S. Attorney Limtiaco and the U.S. Attorney's Office (USAO) continues to work collaboratively with the National District Attorney's Association; U.S. Department of Interior, Office oflnsular Affairs, Federal Ombudsman Office; and U.S. Department of State, Monitoring of Trafficking in Persons Office, on a Pacific Regional Response to Combat Human Trafficking. This response is a critical component of the USAO's human trafficking strategic plan given increased concerns in the Pacific region regarding sex and labor trafficking, violence against women, and child abuse and sexual exploitation. Also of significance are the source countries within the Asia Pacific region from which victims are recruited and trafficked, and their close proximity to Guam, the NMI, Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Federated States ofMicronesia ("FSM"); and the trafficking of victims in the islands themselves. The Pacific Regional Response to Combat Human Trafficking initiative employs a multi-disciplinary 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 response 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. Providing 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, is critical to effective prevention and enforcement efforts in the region. U.S. Attorney Limtiaco has been instrumental in coordinating human trafficking, sexual assault and child sexual exploitation training in Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Republic of Palau, and Federated States of Micronesia; and facilitating the Guam Human Trafficking Task Force efforts, including those of the Victim Service Providers Committee.

NSVRC Director Karen Baker, in a press release, stated that "it is an honor to celebrate these outstanding individuals, who have committed themselves to sexual violence prevention. Recognizing the positive impact of this work on a national level is a great reminder that we all can make a difference."

To learn more about Sexual Assault Awareness Month and the Visionary Voice Award, visit www.nsvrc.org.

Updated January 7, 2015