U.S. Attorney Guest Speaker At U.S. Territory Summit On Violence Against Women

U.S. Attorney Alicia A.G. Limtiaco, Districts of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, was invited by the National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault (SCESA) to be a speaker at the first ever U.S. Territory Summit on Violence Against Women held on June 25, 2012, in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. The Conference was presented by the Criminal Justice Planning Agency and the Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence in partnership with the National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault and the Office on Violence Against Women, United States Department of Justice. 

U.S. Attorney Limtiaco was a presenter with representatives from Guam about best practices in Guam addressing violence against women, including prevention, enforcement and treatment efforts at the federal and local levels.  She also discussed the efforts of and progress made by law enforcement, courts and victim advocates and coalitions in the NMI.

United States Attorney Limtiaco spoke about sharing the sense of urgency to speak out against the escalating violence against women in our island communities.  She also spoke about reaching out to victims and survivors of far too often lethal crimes, and to communicate that there is help and hope. 

U.S. Attorney Limtiaco also stated that domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault and stalking, continue to be a significant public health crisis especially when statistics show that:

• one in four women will be physically or sexually assaulted by a spouse or partner at some point in her lifetime;
• last year, one in 10 teens reported being physically hurt on purpose by a boyfriend or girlfriend;
• last year, one in nine teen girls was forced to have sex;
• last year, one in five young women have been sexually assaulted while they were in college; and
• estimates show that more than 2 million adults and more than 25 million children are exposed to domestic violence every single year;

The Department of Justice is committed to the prevention of violence against women and ensuring the safety and protection of our victims and survivors.  U.S. Attorney Limtiaco shared that U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder, Jr. has held that the United States Attorney community plays a critical role in raising the awareness of and preventing domestic violence and sexual assault, and holding offenders accountable for these crimes.  The Department of Justice will continue to take every possible step to enforce laws protecting victims of violence and to provide resources to assist victim service providers.

Participants at the Summit included teams of victim advocates, domestic violence and sexual assault coalitions/ non profits, law enforcement, prosecutors, judges, and treatment providers from Guam, the NMI, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, and U.S. Virgin Islands.