Coalition vs domestic violence in the works

Three technical assistance providers from California and Hawaii are on Saipan to help organize a coalition to battle sexual assault and domestic violence in the CNMI.

The visitors are Family Violence Prevention Fund managing director Leni Marin and Asian Women’s Shelter executive director Beckie Masaki, both from San Francisco, California, and Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline managing attorney Jennifer Rose.

Marin, Masaki, and Rose are helping establish the Northern Marianas Domestic and Sexual Violence Coalition during the meeting sponsored by the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan’s Azucena.

In an interview with the Saipan Tribune, Marin said they are here for a two-day planning meeting and they hope they would have some time today in coming up with more specific plans.

“It’s been a useful trip for us. We’re trying to get a sense of how the work is being done here. They have provided us with a good representation of members of the community…” Marin said.

Because of their own experience and expertise on domestic violence and sexual assault work, Masaki said they have been asked to help other programs throughout the nation, as well as the territories, to be able to strengthen partnerships in the fight against domestic violence.

Rose said she believes that CNMI had already done a good job in the fight against domestic violence and sexual assault.

“Good job in making sure they have a cross section in the community,” Rose said, noting that participants were not just domestic violence or sexual assault providers or governmental agencies participate, but also the people in the community who witness daily “how violence against women has ravaged our community.”

Rose said the coalition is part of a larger project, that’s why they had also been in Guam and American Samoa.

“The family violence prevention plan is working with Asian Women Shelter for the entire Pacific territories. So it also includes Guam and American Samoa,” Rose said.

Esther Milne, chairperson for the group heading the coalition, said the participants in the meeting are people representing different church organizations, Chuukese community, non-profit organizations, and some government service providers.

“We’re trying to get together as a collective group to work toward ending violence and abuse in the CNMI,” Milne said, adding that the three visiting technical assistance providers plus two guests from the American Samoa have been helping them in the planning.

Milne explained that the coalition would be composed of people belonging to different non-government organizations.

“In this coalition, the driving force is the community,” she said.