Navajo County Victim Services is proud to present the eighth annual Victims’ Rights Symposium. This event will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Friday, April 27, at the Northland Pioneer College Silver Creek Campus in Snowflake. This year’s keynote speaker will be Elizabeth Smart. Smart was kidnapped at knife point when she was 14 years old in June of 2002 from her home in a neighborhood of Salt Lake City, Utah. Smart will be discussing how she felt during her nine months of captivity, the events that followed and how the event has changed her life. Smart’s story has been depicted in different film productions and books, but none will compare to hearing her life changing story in her own words. “I can remember when Elizabeth was abducted from her home,” Navajo County Attorney’s Office Victim Advocate Nicole Kester said. “I was the same age as her then. When she was found and I heard the atrocious things she had to endure I thought to myself, ‘I don’t believe I would make it, to have to go through the things Elizabeth went through and survive, she has to be the strongest teen alive.’ The work she has done advocating is incredible and I am excited to have the chance to see and hear from Elizabeth.” Navajo County Victim Services is committed to providing knowledge to business professionals and community individuals about victim’s rights and services within the community. Advocates are trained to provide important information about how the criminal justice system works, emotional support, and other services to reduce the trauma and insensitivity victims suffer after a crime. The Victims’ Rights Symposium was designed to create a place to learn about the crimes victims endure, the emotional effects crime causes and a safe place to talk about difficult topics. It allows for non-profit companies, businesses, individuals, and government agencies to network and get information about services they provide out to others. Seating is limited and requires registration. Please register at Eventbrite by searching for Navajo County Symposium. Tickets are $10.
