Houston Republic

Victims of human trafficking can find help in a most unlikely place: restaurant bathrooms.

Signs offering information to people being forced to work, to sell or trade sex acts or if they feel threatened or in danger have been placed in the bathrooms. The theory is that is one place where a victim can be alone and away from someone who is controlling them.

The colorful sign advises people who want assistance to text “Help” to 233733, call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-3737-888 or to dial 911. The same information is also provided in Spanish.

Chris Aslam of Dallas, who operates 12 Jack In The Box fast food restaurants, devised the concept with his wife, Edith, after police came to one of his locations seeking a woman who was believed to be a human trafficking victim.

Aslam said the woman wasn’t found, but the incident didn’t leave his mind. He discussed it with his wife when he got home and they came up with the idea for the signs.

“A woman with some agency planned to meet her at a Starbucks and the girl had gotten spooked and not showed up,” Aslam told the Houston Republic. “They came to our place as they were looking around the area for her. That’s kind of what sparked the idea.”

Aslam said it is an ideal location since restaurants, motels and other roadside businesses are frequented by traffickers and their victims.

“You know, you think about it, they’re not really cooking at home,” he said.

Aslam’s idea was aided by the Greater Dallas Restaurant Association as part of its 24HourDallas program. They teamed with HCK2 Partners, an Addison marketing firm, and the Dallas Police Department.

The 24HourDallas program “is part think-tank and part ‘nighttime chamber of commerce,’” according to its website. “Our mission is to create a safe, vibrant and diverse nighttime culture for businesses, residents and guests.”

The signs were just coming in this week, Aslam said. There have been “hundreds and hundreds” of requests for them, he said.

Aslam said people need to realize trafficking isn’t just prostitution. He said some people are brought into the country and forced to work. These signs might help them escape from virtual slavery.

“I’ve seen signs of it over the years, cases when he thought it might be trafficked,” Aslam said. “Labor trafficking is big, even landscapers. People are brought over and held against their will.”

It was a natural time to start this program, since January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month.

If you want a sign, want to help or just want to learn more, go to at 24hourdallas.org/freedom.

You can find additional information through the North Texas Coalition Against Human Trafficking website at www.ntcaht.org.

The coalition notes that this crime happens all around us every day.

“In North Texas, people are exploited at construction sites, farms, homes, restaurants, hotels, factories, and many other places,” its website states.

Now, thanks to Aslam, area restaurants are putting rescuing people on their menu.