FOR IMMEDIATE NEWS RELEASE (January 19, 2019 – Hagåtña): Senator Therese M. Terlaje and members of the 35th Guam Legislature presented two resolutions in support and appreciation of the numerous advocates working to alleviate violence against the most vulnerable in our community and worldwide in observance of January as “National Stalking Awareness Month” and “National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.”
Legislative Resolution No. 10-35 (COR) was presented in support and recognition of the Guam Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Family Violence, in partnership with the Office of Attorney General of Guam, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the Governor’s Community Outreach-Federal Programs Office, as well as numerous community advocates, for their efforts to raise awareness about and encourage the prevention of stalking through community outreach and ongoing training, and on the observance of “National Stalking Awareness Month” in January.
According to statistics, a majority of stalking victims are teenagers and young adults, who are often unaware of the signs of stalking and the resources available to them in our community. 66.2 percent of female victims of stalking were stalked by a current or former intimate partner and 31 percent (31%) of the women who were stalked by an intimate partner were sexually assaulted by that partner.
Resolution No. 11-35 (COR) was presented to recognize the observance of “National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month” and the efforts to combating human trafficking in our community and throughout the world and to emancipating the estimated forty (40) million people enslaved in today’s world, with between fourteen thousand five hundred (14,500) and seventeen thousand five hundred (17,500) of them trafficked into the United States each year; and to preventing additional women, children and men from being trafficked, by encouraging greater awareness of human trafficking, and all other forms of modern day slavery.
The International Labor Organization estimates that women and girls represent the largest share of forced labor victims, with 11.4 million trafficked victims (or 55%), compared to men and boys at 9.5 million (or 45%). The problem of human trafficking continues to reach epic proportions, and is the third largest international crime industry, behind illegal drugs and arms trafficking. It reportedly generates a profit of 32 billion dollars every year; and of that number, 15.5 billion dollars is made in industrialized countries.
“The continued violence against women, children and the most vulnerable in our society remains a barrier to achieving true equality, security and peace in our community and worldwide. I am truly grateful and support the countless do-gooders working to alleviate these barriers through the various outreach and prevention efforts, programs and partnerships, “ stated Senator Therese