U.S. Attorney Alicia Limtiaco Invited to Speak at The 21st International Summit on Violence, Abuse & Trauma

           ALICIA A.G. LIMTIACO, U.S. Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands (NMI), announced that she and several members of the Guam Human Trafficking Task Force (HTTF) and the NMI Human Trafficking Intervention Coalition (HTIC) attended the 21^st International Summit on Violence, Abuse & Trauma held on August 28-31, 2016, sponsored by the Institute on Violence Abuse and Trauma (IVAT).   U.S. Attorney Limtiaco spoke on the topic of “Community Engagement and Reentry:  Preparing Incarcerated Adults and Justice-Involved Youth for Reentry into the Community." 

           The IVAT strives to be a comprehensive resource, training and research center dealing with all aspects of violence, abuse and trauma.  IVAT’s mission is to improve the quality of life for individuals on local, national and international levels by sharing and disseminating vital information, improving collaborations, networking, conducting research and trainings, assisting with direct professional services, providing program evaluations, and consulting to promote violence-free living.

            U.S. Attorney Limtiaco and Victim Witness Coordinator Salome Blas shared information at the Pre-Summit on the efforts in the Pacific region of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and its various task forces, and the importance of a Pacific regional response to address violence prevention and enforcement issues.

           U.S. Attorney Limtiaco and members of the Guam HTTF and NMI HTIC shared information on the Pacific Regional Response to Combat Human Trafficking Initiative (the “Initiative”), which is a collaborative effort of 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; the U.S. Department of Labor; the U.S. Department of Interior, Office of Insular Affairs; the Guam HTTF; the NMI HTIC; and other community partners.  U.S. Attorney Limtiaco also elaborated on 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.

             Photos below were taken at the Summit.