Photo by: Katy Owens

Kristen Medina works with a human rights organization and has a passion for ending modern-day slavery across the globe.

After graduating with a degree in psychology and international studies and a minor in leadership studies in 2011, Medina began working for International Justice Missions, a Christian-based human rights organization.

Medina became aware of human trafficking during her undergrad years at DU.

“Learning more about international law and the ways it impacts countries and illicit markets like human trafficking made me passionate about working for an organization that directly involves law and governments in their approach to fighting human trafficking,” said Medina.

Medina was greatly impacted by her international law professor, Dan Wessner, a former professor at DU.

“I’m not quite sure the moment I became aware of the issue, but once I did, it was an issue that grabbed my heart and I couldn’t let it go,” said Medina.

The summer before her final year at DU, Medina traveled to South Asia with Campus Crusade for Christ, also known as Cru. The trip opened her eyes, showing her the reality of human trafficking.

Medina was part of a group of six who had the opportunity to go to the Red Light District and visit a brothel. “After leaving that brothel, I knew I had just entered the most oppressive, dark place on earth. After leaving that place I knew I could no longer sit idly by, but that I had to do something to fight this injustice,” said Medina.

Later in the year, Medina connected with the organization International Justice Missions. She was inspired by the president and CEO of IJM, Gary Haugen.

“I love how Gary took his personal experiences, saw the realities of injustice that exist, and chose to do something about it, in doing so, founding International Justice Mission,” said Medina.

IJM is a human rights agency that works to secure justice for victims of violent oppression, including slavery and sexual exploitation.

Medina now works full-time with Cru and IJM. She remains as passionate now as she was when she first learned about these injustices around the world.

She has seen the pain of those enslaved first-hand, and she knows there is hope for the oppressed, hope found in all who fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.

“God has a plan to bring an end to injustices, and that plan is us,” said  Haugen.

Medina knows it is easy to fear a problem that is too big to be solved.

She encourages students and individuals to get involved through research, movies and books and then share that knowledge with others. Spreading awareness is one of the first steps to a solution.

“I know it can be easy to hear all the statistics about human trafficking and be upset by them, but then never do anything about it. Don’t be one of those people. I knew I couldn’t,” said Medina.

Anyone wishing to become involved in the fight against human trafficking may contact her at kmedina9211@gmail.com.