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Press Release

“Strategies For Justice – Collaboration In The Western Pacific: A Pacific Regional Response To Combat Human Trafficking”

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

U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands Co-sponsors Human Trafficking Training in Palau

Alicia A.G. Limtiaco, U.S. Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, announced that her office co-sponsored the 2nd Pacific Regional Response to Combat Human Trafficking International Conference held in the Republic of Palau on July 22-26, 2013.   U.S. Attorney Limtiaco, Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) Rosetta San Nicolas and AUSA Rami Badawy, conducted training and presentations on topics including, “Pacific Regional Response to Combat Human Trafficking - Collaboration in the Western Pacific”; “Investigation and Prosecution of Sexually Oriented Businesses and Civil Code Enforcement”;  and “Child Sexual Exploitation, Child Pornography and Human Trafficking of Minors.”  U.S. Attorney Limtiaco, AUSA San Nicolas and AUSA Badawy were also instructors of the Human Trafficking Trial Advocacy Course, held at the Conference.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office (“USAO”) for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands (“NMI”) has been and continues to work collaboratively with the National District Attorney’s Association (NDAA); U.S. Department of Interior, Office of Insular 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 initiative. 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 of Micronesia (“FSM”); and the trafficking of victims in the islands themselves.

The Pacific Regional Response to Combat Human Trafficking 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 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.

The conference provided a forum for governmental and non-governmental organizations to engage in dialogue and discuss issues, concerns, problems, plans, strategies and solutions relating to human trafficking in their respective Pacific island communities, in the Pacific region, and globally.  The conference also provided an opportunity for the participants to establish professional relationships and partnerships, and to engage in cooperative and collaborative domestic and international efforts to prevent and fight against human trafficking, establish victim services, and prosecute and hold traffickers accountable for these heinous crimes.

The “2nd Pacific Regional Response to Combat Human Trafficking International Conference” was attended by approximately 100 leaders and members of the Pacific regional community.

Photos of the conference are attached.

Conference attendees from Guam and Saipan, left to right,
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rami Badawy, Cynthia Kinto, UOG Student, Mary Kate Donnell, UOG Student, U.S. Attorney Alicia Limtiaco. Lauri Ogumoro, Director, Guma Esperanza, Saipan Attorney General Joey San Nicolas and Assistant U.S. Attorney Rosetta San Nicolas.

U.S. Attorney Alicia Limtiaco addressing conference participants.

Updated January 7, 2015