Ads by Google Ads by Google

A First: AS delegation to attend Summit on Violence Against Women

For the first time, American Samoa will join other US territories at a summit hosted by the office of Violence Against Women with the Department of Justice in partnership with the National Organization of Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault (SCESA).

The U.S. Territory Summit on Violence Against Women will be held in Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).

The delegation from American Samoa will include Police Commander Tauese Va’a Sunia from the Department of Public Safety, Fa’aalu Iuli of the “Alliance for Strengthening Families”,  Criminal Justice Planning Agency Director Taufetee John Faumuina, Associate Judge Suapaia Pereira, Tu Vele from CJPA and Deputy Attorney General Mitzie Jessop Folau representing the Attorney General’s office.

The invitations by the SCESA to the delegates has it that this groundbreaking summit event will be the first to bring together key decision makers representing judicial, prosecution, law enforcement, victim advocates, and grant administrators from all of the U.S. Territories.

SCESA says that this Summit will provide an opportunity to craft a comprehensive plan to address violence against women on each territory and there will be opportunities for facilitated dialogue to address emerging issues, identify trends, challenges, successes, and promising practices among and across all of the Territories as well as provide opportunities for shared learning across disciplines.

“The U.S. Territories have a history of working together on many issues. “But never before has there been a gathering to support collaboration and information sharing to address violence against women on all of the U.S. Territories” according to the DOJ invitation.

The DOJ hopes for this summit that the judicial representation from the US territories along with a Judge that will be an instrumental step in the work to address violence against women in the community and throughout the U.S. Territories.

Deputy Attorney General Folau will make a presentation on the effective collaborations to address Violence Against Women.

SCESA is coordinating the logistics for the Summit and will pay the cost for each delegate attending the summit. The summit will be held later this month.