(Reuters) – Washington State is the first state in America to adopt a law creating an alert system for missing Indigenous people.

Jay Inslee is a Democrat and signed Thursday’s bill. The bill calls upon the Washington State Patrol, to establish the alert system.

The system will also include a hotline that the public can use to report missing native persons. This information will be quickly sent to all law enforcement agencies in the state. It can also be shared with the general public through social media and news outlets.

Studies by the state show that Native American women, and especially girls, have a high proportion of cases of murder and missing persons relative to their populations. Yet, media attention and law enforcement are sparse. Native American activists claim this disparity stems from deep-rooted racism.

Researchers found that the nation is experiencing a data crisis regarding cases of missing or killed indigenous persons. There are very few details available to law enforcement agencies in this country.

Debra Lekanoff (a Washington state senator and Native American) stated during the ceremony of the bill signing that the alarm system would allow the public hear the “unheard screams” of missing indigenous women.

She said, “I am proud to state that the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women’s and Peoples’ Alert System was created by the voices of our Native American Leaders.” “Missing and murdering Indigenous women and men is not an Indian issue. It’s not an Indian responsibility.”