Each year, hundreds of Alaska residents are abused and exploited through human trafficking, many being used as sex slaves or forced laborers.
In an effort to help combat this scourge, Gov. Mike Dunleavy has proclaimed January as Alaska Human Trafficking Prevention Month.
His Jan. 1 proclamation highlights that human trafficking enslaves an estimated 27.6 million people worldwide with traffickers luring victims with promises of opportunities, safe housing and the opportunity of a better life, or using coercion and fraud to force victims into servitude and commercial sex.
Dunleavy highlighted the fact that trafficking is the second most profitable crime trade worldwide.
“Human trafficking is a public health issue and crime that exploits the most vulnerable among us and weakens the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities across generations, and occurs in both rural and urban Alaska,” he stated. “Although human trafficking can happen to anyone, certain populations are disproportionately at risk, including people affected by abuse, violence, poverty, unstable living situations, social disconnection, or discrimination.”
ALASKA WATCHMAN DIRECT TO YOUR INBOX
According to the most recent report from the Governor’s Council on Human and Sex Trafficking, hundreds of Alaskans are entrapped in this lucrative criminal enterprise, many of whom are homeless or have limited English proficiency.
“Human traffickers utilize coercion, force, and fraud to force victims into servitude and commercial prostitution,” the Governor’s Council on Human and Sex Trafficking website states. It adds that victims are exploited in “numerous ways, including street prostitution, illicit massage parlors, brothels, and online advertising, in order to enhance the traffickers’ economic position.”
The website notes that human trafficking generates an estimated $150 billion in illegal revenues each year. Criminal networks include gangs, diplomats, business owners, labor brokers, farmers, fishermen and others.
“Alaska is not immune to human trafficking and in fact studies show that Alaska Native youth are more likely to be disproportionately affected by human trafficking,” the website notes.
TAKING ACTION
— Those in need of assistance are encouraged to contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or text “help” to BeFree (233733).
— To report suspected human or sex trafficking, click here.
4 Comments
Under Mike Dunleavys leadership today as of this very moment,Alaskans children are being mutilated, financed by Mike Dunleavys administration, taking Alaskans tax dollars to double the size of the department of health and human services, which distributes sex hormone drugs to aid in transition perversity to our youth! Yes it’s true, the state grooms, drugs, and sexually mutilates our children and Dunleavy pretends to give a crap about sex traffickers! We’re done being treated like we’re stupid!
Looking at this more positively, Dave, at least Gov Dunleavy’s statements have made it into this article. I appreciated the article and what Gov Dunleavy is doing bcz it sheds light on the darkness of human trafficking. Maybe he has not gotten to the transgender issue yet, and yes, that is horrific as well- what these transgenderized kids are going thru. But if we can accentuate the positive, rather than criticize those who are trying to do SOMETHING, than maybe we can work together toward common, positive goals? Beating each other up- of those mostly on our side- will get us no where. Ronald Reagan said “The person who agrees with you 80 percent of the time is a friend and an ally – not a 20 percent traitor,” Expecting people to agree with us 100% of the time is unrealistic and makes us all ineffective. Then enemy, then, loves that!!
I would like to reply to My Reply…thinking about this further- that Gov Dunleavy has “not gotten to the transgender issue yet” is certainly naive. And these kids Do need help Today. I run into them at various places and think to myself, “don’t you realize what a beautiful girl (or boy) that you Already ARE?! And yet, they are in the process of giving up their God-Given identity. So very very sad for what they’re heading into.
But I thk that there are deeper evils at work here— have we considered that these “compromised” leaders’ lives as being threatened, that these leaders can only go “so far”, and that they can’t speak of these threats or they will be putting their family’s in danger? During Covid, all of the US Supreme Court Justices were not coming against the invalid election of Biden vs. Trump; evidence of which was already being revealed. I believed then, as I do now, that often these leaders’ lives are being threatened.
And yes, I don’t like the RHINO matrix, but there may be darker threats in that arena, as well.
Let’s please rally the 80%-in- agreement people and come against these truly darker force. The best way to come against these dark forces, I believe, IS our unity, our concerted focused energy upon the enemy’s plans, and our deepest, sincerest prayers.
That IS what the enemy wants– us fighting each other, instead of our focused energy against its self.
Bcz divided, we certainly Don’t and won’t stand. DIVIDED WE FALL.
“God, we ask for YOUR Help in all of this. Amen.”
What’s the problem here, too much truth to absorb?