The President has declared May 5, 2019 as Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives Awareness Day . Among the diverse populations affected by human trafficking, indigenous peoples worldwide are at particular risk for both sex trafficking and labor trafficking. The HHS Administration for Native Americans (ANA) notes that American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander women and girls are at higher risk for experiencing sex trafficking.
The Proclamation states that:
"Too many American Indians and Alaska Natives are the victims of abuse, sexual exploitation, or murder—or are missing from their communities. Some of those missing may be victims of human trafficking. We must work together as a Nation to correct these injustices and ensure the safety of all Americans, particularly our most vulnerable populations."
"Federal agencies are working more comprehensively and more collaboratively to address violent crime in Indian country, to recover the American Indian and Alaska Native women and children who have gone missing, and to find justice for those who have been murdered. As a result of these ongoing efforts, we are improving public safety, we are expanding funding and training opportunities for law enforcement in Indian country, and we are better equipping them with tools like access to criminal databases. We have also established improved protocols based on our government-to-government relationships with the tribes, and have become more transparent and accountable in our efforts."
We are proud to partner with ANA to address human trafficking in Native communities. Learn more about our recent collaborative efforts (PDF).