Stalking and Human Trafficking Prevention Awareness Month proclaimed

By JOEL D. PINAROC
joel_pinaroc@saipantribune.com
REPORTER

The administration of Gov. Eloy S. Inos has proclaimed February as Stalking and Human Trafficking Prevention Awareness Month as well as National Parent Leadership Month

Lt. Gov. Ralph DLG. Torres and Department of Community and Cultural Resources Secretary Laura Ogumoro pose with DCCA and Division of Youth Services staff and members of Parents Anonymous during Friday’s proclamation designating February as “National Parent Leadership Month” at the Governor’s Office conference room. Torres also declared this month as Stalking and Human Trafficking Prevention Awareness Month. (Mark Rabago)

The signed proclamations were read and presented by Lt. Gov. Ralph DLG. Torres on behalf of Inos who was not able to attend the proclamations last Friday at the Governor’s Office conference room on Capital Hill.

Reading the first proclamation, Torres said anyone can be a victim of stalking, regardless of age, sex, background, or gender identity, with most young women being disproportionately at risk.

“Stalkers seek to intimidate their victims through repeated unwanted contact, including harassing phone calls, text messages, emails, electronic monitoring through the internet, and so forth. Many victims suffer from anxiety, depression and insomnia, and some are forced to move or change jobs,” the proclamation read.

The proclamation also cited human trafficking as the fastest growing criminal industry in the world, with nearly 27 million victims; globally, there are 4.5 million victims of sex slavery and between 100,000 to 300,000 U.S. children are enslaved in sex trafficking each year.

In the U.S., the average age of recruitment into sex slavery is 12 to 14 years old, and approximately 20 percent of all Internet pornography involves children who are victims of human trafficking.

The proclamation further noted that the CNMI Human Trafficking Intervention Coalition continues to work collaboratively with federal and local partners and numerous non-profit organizations.

The CNMI HTIC consists of the NMI Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Office of the Attorney General, CNMI Department of Public Safety, Federal Bureau of Investigations, U.S. Department of Labor, CNMI Department of Labor, Karidat Social Services, Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation, Department of Homeland Security/Homeland Security Investigations, Micronesian Legal Services Corporation-Marianas Office, private sector partners and others.

The second proclamation meanwhile cited the efforts of Parent Anonymous, a family-oriented group focusing on the prevention of child abuse and neglect, which is celebrating its 46th anniversary.

The proclamation also created “National Parent Leadership Month” in February to recognize the extraordinary courage and tenacity of parents who have reached out to make improvements in their families and communities.

A number of diverse CNMI public and private entities have joined the Division of Youth Services, the Parent Education Program, and the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs to plan and implement activities in promoting this year’s theme: “Strengthening Families through Parent Leadership,” the proclamation further read.