Non-profit group to host fundraiser for victims

Brown-Blackburn

A non-profit organization that is at the forefront of protecting laborers, women, and migrants is holding a fundraiser to help victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.

The fundraiser by the Pacific Ombudsman Humanitarian Law will be held on July 8, starting at 3pm, at the Godfather’s Beach Bar inside the grounds of the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan.

Former attorney general Pamela Brown-Blackburn, who currently heads the Pacific Ombudsman Humanitarian Law, joined up with former assistant secretary for Insular Affairs Tony Babauta and Laurie Peterka to create the non-profit group.

Brown-Blackburn, who has experience in victim and abuse services since 1994, used to be the federal ombudsman at the Office of Insular Affairs of the Department of the Interior. The office was closed in 2013 as Interior saw no further need to assist foreign workers with issues.

“Having done that job for many years, I was aware of the fact that it is never the case [on] Saipan. There is always something going on,” said Brown-Blackburn.

That’s how Pacific Ombudsman Humanitarian Law was created—to pick up the slack that the federal ombudsman’s office would leave behind.

“We started in November 2013 and we have been going on since. Our primary objective is assisting victims of abuse and violation, domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking—the whole gamut,” she said.

She pointed out that domestic problems are prevalent among U.S. citizens and Micronesians and it is not only aliens and non-U.S. citizens that are being victimized.

“We help people get whatever benefit they are supposed to be getting, whether they are going to get temporary restraining orders in the local court or an immigration benefit while trying to pursue justice against a perpetrator. We have to get them counseling,“ Blackburn said.

The Pacific Ombudsman Humanitarian Law’s work is similar to the services of the ombudsman—to be a clearinghouse or referral place so that victims will have a centralized place where they can seek help.

“We focus on the referral aspect but we also provide legal services, medical and mental health assistance. The legal services for the most part is pro-bono, so it’s free.”

“The Pacific Ombudsman take in victims who are referred and those who walk in. We talk to them and ask what they need. We encounter language barriers but we have people who we trust to come in and do the translation so victims can express better and we would truly know what happened to them and the solutions we can provide.”

At the fundraiser, the office can answer any questions the public may have regarding victims or crimes in the CNMI.

Brown-Blackburn believes the community needs more awareness. “Everyone knows that something is happening but no one is talking about it. The economic development that is happening here in the CNMI is great but not all boats are in as it rises. We should address domestic problems as well.”