RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – Human trafficking may seem like something that only happens overseas but local organizations say it’s happening in our own backyard.

It’s taken some time but Anna Malika says 12 years later, she’s finally able to tell her story.

“I was forced to do unthinkable things,” Malika said.

When she was 17, she turned to a 40-year-old man for attention.

Without her knowing, that man drugged her and forced her to perform sex acts on camera.

“It’s a violent issue,” she said. “It’s very problematic.”

At the time, she had no idea she was caught up in the world of human trafficking.

“I thought it was only overseas. I thought it was just crossing borders but it’s actually in our own backyard. It’s here, it’s real and pornography is often a form of human trafficking,” Malika said.

She said her story is more prevalent than many would think, especially in North Carolina.

A national anti-human trafficking organization ranks North Carolina among the top-10 states in the nation for human trafficking

The large highway system in North Carolina helps provide easy access to trafficking human victims. And that is why cities such as Raleigh, Greensboro and charlotte are hubs for human trafficking

The North Carolina Governor’s Crime commission is making it a priority this year to prevent human trafficking.

“I don’t think people know the depths of human trafficking and how it crosses both labor and sex trafficking and I think the commission is extremely important to start to shine a light on impact it has on North Carolina communities,” said Monika Johnson-Hostler with the crime commission.

A group of N.C. State University students are also trying to shine a light on the issue.

“It affects people in your own community everywhere in the world, not just third world countries it’s everywhere,” said student Sierra LaPlant.

They joined college campuses across the nation for “Shine a Light on Slavery Day.” That day was part of the “End It” movement, a global coalition that is trying to eliminate human trafficking.

“We really just want to come together and raise our voice and create awareness that leads to action so we can put an end to modern day slavery,” said Wes Jones of Hope Community Church.

For Malika, it was awareness that led her to get out of a horrible situation.

“I didn’t even know I was a victim until I heard about it later and it’s very important we start talking about it because when someone hears about it, then they want to make a difference and we become a catalyst for change,” she said.