For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today delivered remarks on her career in law enforcement and public service, and the challenges and opportunities facing the next generation of leadership in homeland security at the Center for American Progress "Women's Leadership Series."
"We are working within DHS, and across the homeland security enterprise, to develop and train the next generation of leaders, including developing opportunities for women to succeed in this field," said Secretary Napolitano. "We're also committed to advancing the rights, security, and dignity of women, children, and families through the work of our Department."
Secretary Napolitano highlighted significant work that's taken place at DHS to prevent violence and protect victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. These include the development of a training program for DHS personnel who work in an immigration-related setting on the requirements of the Violence Against Women Act and a resource guide for local law enforcement on U visas, which provide immigration protection to eligible victims of crime who are willing to assist with criminal investigations and prosecutions.
Secretary Napolitano also reiterated the Department's commitment to combating human trafficking. In January, the Department's Blue Campaign - a first-of-its-kind initiative to coordinate and enhance the Department's anti-human trafficking efforts launched in 2010 - released a new suite of awareness trainings, which are distributed to key sectors, including transportation, hospitality, retail, law enforcement, first responders, and non-governmental organizations to increase awareness about how to identify and report suspected cases of human trafficking.
For more information, visit www.dhs.gov.
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