U.S. Attorney Alicia Limtiaco Guest Speaker at PATA Meeting

          ALICIA A.G. LIMTIACO, United States Attorney for the Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands (NMI), was invited to be the guest speaker at the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) meeting, which was held on December 2, 2015, at the office of the Guam Visitors Bureau.  U.S. Attorney Limtiaco presented information to the PATA membership about our Pacific Regional Response to Combat Human Trafficking Initiative, how human trafficking relates to the visitor and tourism industry, and what the tourism industry can do to prevent human trafficking and identify and support victims of trafficking.  

          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.

          As taken from their website, PATA was founded in 1951, and “is a not-for profit association that is internationally acclaimed for acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from and within the Asia Pacific region.  Its member organizations comprise of 88 government, state and city tourism bodies, nearly 22 international airlines, airports and cruise lines, 62 educational institutions, and hundreds of travel industry companies in Asia Pacific and beyond.  Thousands of travel professionals belong to 43 active PATA chapters worldwide.”