U.S. Attorney Limtiaco Invited As Panel Member At Association Of Pacific Island Legislatures Meeting On “Preventing Human Trafficking In The Pacific Region”

Alicia A.G. Limtiaco, U.S. Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, along with Sarah Thomas-Nededog, Vice-President, West Care Pacific Islands; Dr. Julie Ulloa-Heath, President, Micronesian Youth Services Network; and Carol Hinkle-Sanchez, Assistant Attorney General, Guam Attorney General’s Office, were invited by the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures (APIL) to speak on the topic of “Preventing Human Trafficking in the Pacific Region.”    According to their website, APIL membership is comprised of legislators from the Pacific region, including American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia (Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap), Guam, Hawaii, the Republic of Kiribati, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Nauru, and the Republic of Palau.  The APIL meet to consider matters in areas where regional cooperation, coordination, exchange and assistance may help governments achieve their goals through collection action.

U.S. Attorney Limtiaco and the panel members shared information on the “Pacific Regional Response to Combat Human Trafficking” initiative, which is a collaborative effort among the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands (NMI), the National District Attorneys Association, the Department of State, the Department of Interior, Guam Human Trafficking Task Force, NMI Human Trafficking Intervention Coalition, and other community partners. The panel 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 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.

Photos of the presenters are attached.

U.S. Attorney Alicia Limtiaco addressing the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures.

Presenters:
 
United States Attorney Alicia A. G. Limtiaco             Dr. Julie Ulloa-Heath, President, MYSN

  
Carol Hinkle-Sanchez, Assistant Attorney                 Sarah Thomas-Nededog, Vice-President,
General, Guam Attorney General’s Office                  West Care Pacific Islands