Alaska

The nickname of the 49th state, Alaska, is the “Last Frontier.” Purchased from Russia for $7 million in 1867, Alaska is the largest state in area and is the largest peninsula in the Western Hemisphere. Mt. McKinley in the Alaska Range is North America’s highest peak at 20,320 feet and one of the greatest challenges for mountain climbers. Juneau is the state’s capital, and the state flower is the pale-blue forget-me-not.

Human trafficking is a serious issue that affects people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds in Alaska and around the world. It is defined as the use of force, fraud, or coercion to exploit someone for labor, sexual exploitation, or other forms of exploitation. It can take many forms, including sex trafficking, labor trafficking, and domestic servitude.

In Alaska, the issue of human trafficking has received increasing attention in recent years. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, there were 16 reported cases of human trafficking in the state in 2020. The majority of these cases involved sex trafficking, followed by labor trafficking.

Victims of human trafficking in Alaska may come from a variety of backgrounds and may be exploited in a variety of settings, including hotels, restaurants, factories, farms, and private homes. Some of the most common indicators of human trafficking in Alaska include:

• Victims who are unable to move or leave their place of work due to fear or coercion
• Victims who are controlled by their traffickers through force, threats, or intimidation
• Victims who are not allowed to speak for themselves or who are not allowed to make decisions about their own lives
• Victims who are not paid for their work or who are paid very little
• Victims who are not allowed to leave their place of work or who are constantly accompanied by their traffickers

If you suspect that someone you know may be a victim of human trafficking in Alaska, it is important to get help as soon as possible. You can call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or the Alaska Office of Children’s Services’ Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-844-804-7555. You can also contact local law enforcement or a trusted organization that provides services to trafficking victims.