THE Division of Youth Services and the Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence praised Gov. David M. Apatang for signing Public Law 24-8, a strengthened law to protect children from sexual abuse.
In separate interviews on Thursday, DYS Administrator Vivian Sablan and the Coalition’s executive director, Maisie B. Tenorio, said they are pleased the governor signed the bill into law. The legislation was authored by House Floor Leader Marissa Flores.
“We’re thankful to see this bill signed into law by the governor. This marks an important step forward in strengthening protections for our children and families in the CNMI,” Sablan said. “The changes in this law address gaps that have existed for years, giving us clearer tools to respond quickly, prevent harm, and hold those responsible accountable. It reflects the reality of what we see in our work every day and ensures our legal framework keeps pace with the challenges our community faces.”
Sablan said her team at DYS works hard every day in the community. “Having laws that back up our work makes a real difference,” she said. “With the strengthened law against sexual abuse of minors, we can improve how we protect children, work with families, and hold those who harm them accountable. We look forward to working with our partners to put these changes into action.”
Tenorio said P.L. 24-8 is the result of a collaborative effort among the Coalition, DYS, the Office of the Attorney General, Karidat Social Services, and members of the Commonwealth Sexual Assault Response Team. The effort spanned multiple years and involved feedback from the community on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.
She noted that an amendment to Public Law 12-82, the CNMI law against child abuse of minors, was long overdue. “We are very happy that Governor Apatang signed it into law because it reflects our community’s commitment to ensuring all children have access to justice,” Tenorio said.
The new law provides additional protections for youth, updates definitions such as age of consent and sexual contact, and addresses how technology is now used to abuse and target children. Tenorio added that the law also extends protections for adults. “Our next step is to provide training for law enforcement, the community, and anyone involved in the criminal justice system to ensure we use this bill to its full capacity,” she said.
