Educational materials about human trafficking filled a table outside of a Capitol room where human rights advocates spoke to lawmakers about how human trafficking affects Alaska on January 24, 2024. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
Human trafficking, which affects an estimated 27.6 million people forced into labor or sex around the world, is happening in Alaska. Nearly 30% of homeless youth in Anchorage identified as victims of human trafficking.
“We have trafficking stories in all six of our high schools in Anchorage,” said Gwen Adams, founder of the nonprofit, faith-based advocacy group Priceless in a presentation at the Capitol on Tuesday.
Adams said there were 40,000-60,000 online advertisements for trafficked people per month in Anchorage alone, though some of these were advertisements for the same person posted more than once. She said that Alaska Native teens or young adults who travel to Fairbanks or Anchorage from villages are approached by a trafficker within 72 hours, according to Federal Bureau of Investigation data.