Audrey Pan, a dedicated full-time student and passionate activist, is already creating a powerful impact within her community—all before even receiving her bachelor’s degree. Pan is a graduating senior at the University of Utah studying theater—in the Actor Training Program—and political science.
Pan is an advocate for human trafficking awareness and prevention. “Though I am passionate about other causes, I chose trafficking to focus on because it’s such a clear cut example of all of these theories, like critical race theory that still persists which is still very real in this world,” Pan mentioned. “Trafficking isn’t really educated.”
“Human trafficking is the use and utilization of another human being through force, fraud, or coercion,” Pan explained. “Examples being selling another person for sex in exchange for financial compensation, or it could be self-entitlement.”
Pan has a very strong initiative—to share the stories of survivors and educate others to prevent human trafficking before it happens. “Because a lot of people don’t know what it is, they don’t know if they are in a situation that involves trafficking. If you are educated on this topic, you can see the signs,” Pan explained.
The best way to help stop trafficking is through spreading awareness. It is important to stop trafficking at the source. One of the most affected groups, Pan says, are those without homes. “The unhoused community is always susceptible to trafficking and you never know who in your circle has a connection. Low-income communities are more susceptible to trafficking because [traffickers] take advantage of a lack of opportunity.”
“[I have] admiration for survivors who speak on their story and let people know that what they have been through is real,” Pan said. “I hate the concept of ‘saving someone,’ because I can’t save someone from being trafficked. But I can support them and let them know that their situation is harmful. An advocate doesn’t survive; survivors save themselves.”
“The best way to stop it is to start talking about it,” Pan said. “Start talking about it, start bringing it up in conversations, and connect it to different issues.” Pan encourages you to seek out knowledge and continue asking questions.
