Hundreds take part in Day of Unity

Hundreds of community members attended the Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence’s Day of Unity event that celebrated Domestic Violence Awareness Month last Saturday at the CPA Airport Field.

The fun-filled event, which adopted the theme “Solidarity for Safety,” was participated in by various organizations and government agencies that set up their booths and engaged on activities, namely Rotaract Club of Saipan, Joeten-Kiyu Public Library Bookmobile, Micronesian Legal Services Corp., Division of Youth Services-Child Protective Services, Commonwealth Healthcare Corp.- Community Guidance Center, Northern Marianas College’s The Club of Artists, Karidat Social Services, Northern Marianas Protection and Advocacy Systems, Inc., CNMI Young Pacific Leaders, Office of Attorney General-Criminal Division, Northern Marianas Athletics, CNMI Department of Public Safety, CNMI Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services, and American Red Cross-NMI Chapter.

A passport was issued during registration wherein attendees had to complete stamps from all the booth exhibitors to claim a prize such as a shirt and toys.

Other than the booths’ engaging activities, the attendees enjoyed free carabao rides and Marianas High School’s remote robotic cars.

The Day of Unity also celebrated cultures coming together, wherein attendees enjoyed performances from Polksai Cultural Dancers, Polynesian Cultural Dance Performers, Kagman High School Refaluwasch Club, Saipan Southern High School Nesian Club, Marianas High School Cultural Club, Saipan Awaodori Team, Anna Rose Deleon Guerrero, Joshua Paradise, Profound Bandits, Tipiyew Bwiibwiis, and the Voices of the Marianas.

Richard Baleares and Joshua Q. Castro served as the event’s emcees who presented talking points that emphasized on the event’s theme this year, “Solidarity for Safety.”

The talking points include the purpose of the Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which is to honor loved ones by remembering and mourning lives taken by domestic violence and to celebrate the progress made by advocates, organizations, and communities over the years.

It also seeks to foster unity as DVAM promotes a sense of unity and solidarity among individuals and communities. It encourages people to come together across diverse backgrounds, acknowledging that domestic violence affects everyone regardless of age, gender identity, ethnicity, faith, or socioeconomic status.

Meanwhile, “safety” from the theme was also explained wherein the letter “s” stands for support which means believing victims and survivors, validating their experiences, and acknowledging the impact of trauma. It means standing together and offering unwavering assistance to victims and survivors of domestic violence. It’s about providing a safe space where they can heal and find the strength to move forward.

Meanwhile, the “a” stands for amplify, which is to increase the volume on the issue of domestic violence, victims, and survivors, no matter where they are or what their circumstance, need to hear and feel our support. Ending domestic violence requires actions like speaking up and bringing support directly to victims and survivors. It also call for igniting open dialogue about domestic violence to foster communities where victims and survivors feel safe to share their experiences and seek help without fear of judgment or blame.

The “f” stands for freedom and it’s about honoring the ability of victims and survivors to make their own decisions and control their own lives. Victims and survivors need choices and the freedom to make choices that impact their lives and the lives of their dependents.

The “e” is for empowering victims and survivors and giving them back power. Victims and survivors experience a total loss of power over their lives. That’s why it’s important to encourage them to reclaim control and make informed choices by equipping them with supportive resources for professional help, legal support, and counseling. By honoring their choices, it ultimately helps them regain their autonomy, power, and confidence. Thus, it’s imperative to continue to uplift victims and survivors by celebrating their progress and acknowledging their resilience on the path to healing.

The “t” stands for trust and building trust with victims and survivors as it increases the chances of them reaching out for support or reporting the abuse. Trust can be built by doing what is right, showing genuine concern, and fostering a culture of respect and inclusivity. This ensures efforts to address domestic violence are sincere, consistent, and effective.

Lastly, “Y” stands for you are an important part of the movement to end domestic violence. It means everyone is needed to build up solidarity, voice, and action to create a CNMI free of abuse.

NMCADSV would like to thank the Tan Siu Lin Foundation, Commonwealth Ports Authority, CNMI Department of Public Safety, and Ben Ki for their generous contributions to the Day of Unity event that celebrated Domestic Violence Awareness Month.