NAME OF ORGANIZATION:

Office of the Special Assistant for Women's Affairs

Office of Governor

ADDRESS:

P.O.BOX 10007
Chalan Kanoa Post Office
Saipan, MP 96950
Tel: (670)288-4102 OR 288-7365
Fax: (670)288-0845

STATUS:

Government/Executive Branch

YEAR OF ESTABLISHMENT:

1985

LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY:

Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) Constitution Article III, Section 22

OBJECTIVES AND FUNCTIONS:

Based on the CNMI Constitutional mandate, the Governor=s Office of Women=s Affairs are charged with the following responsibilities:

* To formulate and implement a policy of affirmative action in the public and private sectors to assist women to achieve political, educational, social parity.
* To assist public agencies and private sectors= organizations plan and implement programs and services for women.
* To monitor compliance of CNMI laws and regulations, policies and procedures of public and private sectors agencies and organizations, respectively.
* To organize community-based education strategies and public awareness on the roles of women.
* To propose and recommended to Governor and the CNMI Legislatures any legislation of benefit to women.

MAJOR ACTIVITIES:

To Governor=s office of Women=s Affairs proposed to undertake activities whereby women organizations, established and legally charted, in the Northern Mariana Islands can serve as the advisory body of the Governor=s Office of women residing in the Northern Mariana from various ethnic groups. Such ethnic background includes the Filipina Women Association, Para Hita/Ghiish, Korean Women Association, and others to name a few. Their function is to provide advice and to make necessary recommendations to Special Assistant for Women=s Affairs on issues to benefit women in general.

STAFF:

The Commonwealth of the northern Mariana Islands is divided into three (3) Senatorial Districts:

First Senatorial District: Rota Island
Second Senatorial District: Tinian and Aguiguan Is.
First Senatorial District: Saipan and Islands North

The staff of Governor=s Office for Women=s Affairs are placed within each senatorial district of the Northern Mariana Islands:

First Senatorial District: ROTA ISLAND
No.of Staff : 2 > 1 Clerk; 1 Managerial

Second Senatorial District: TINIAN & AGUIGUAN IS.
No.of Staff : 2 > 1 Clerk; 1 Managerial

Third Senatorial District: SAIPAN & ISLANDS NORTH OF SAIPAN
No.of Staff : 6 > 2 Clerk; 3 Managerial

BUDGET:

The Governor's Office of Women's Affairs receives its annual budget appropriations from CNMI Legislature for personnel and operations for all three senatorial districts, Saipan and Islands North of Saipan; Tinian and Aguiguan Islands; and Rota Island. The expenditure authority rests with the special Assistant for Women=s Affairs.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE:

The Governor=s Office of Women=s Affairs reports directly to the Governor or the Lt. Governor for its daily operations. However, the Special Assistant for Administration has the sole responsibility to provide direct supervision of all departments below the office of the Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands