Mariana Islands: Filipinas Top List of Battered Women

The Nothern Mariana Islands, a US Commonwealth, is
about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines

COMMONWEALTH OF NORTHEN MARIANA ISLANDS (CNMI) -- They could just be the more courageous ethnic group to report abuses, or there may be just too many of them on island, but regardless of the underlying factors, the fact showed that there are more Filipinos who are victimized by domestic violence than other ethnic groups in the .

This is according to Guma Esperanza in its testimony to the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources during the latter's hearing in Washington D.C. last week.

Guma Esperanza-House of Hope, which receives federal funding, extends assistance to victims of domestic violence and human trafficking in the CNMI.

Lauri Ogumoro, manager of Guma Esperanza, said that Filipinos is the largest ethnic group that seeks refuge at the center.

Second largest are Chamorros and third, Chinese.

“The ethnic breakdown of clients and their children seeking refuge at Guma Esperanza mirrors the ethnic diversity of the Commonwealth. Filipinos, followed by Chamorro, then Chinese women, are the three largest ethnic groups served through the shelter,” said Ogumoro in her testimony.

Ogumoro was one of the resource persons from the CNMI invited by the Senate panel to speak about the immigration situation in the Commonwealth.

During the hearing, Ogumoro cited the need for “change” in the current system to ensure protection of its citizens and the entire community.

She cited a number of documented cases of sex trafficking and human rights abuses, which she said are indicative that “there's something wrong in the system.”

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