Expected Increase in Calls to National Human Trafficking Hotline Across Texas as A21, the First Lady of Texas, and the Outdoor Advertising Association Join Forces for Award-Winning Awareness Campaign Can You See Me?

 

This multi-media campaign highlights the realities of modern-day slavery in the U.S.

 

In the fight against modern day slavery, partners A21, a global anti-human trafficking organization, the Outdoor Advertising Association of Texas and Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott are reactivating the successful statewide media campaign entitled Can You See Me?. This out-of-home campaign will equip tens of millions of commuters to recognize indicators of human trafficking and report suspicious behavior to dedicated hotline numbers.

Can You See Me?, a series of confronting billboards that depict scenarios of the most common forms of modern-day slavery, will be displayed in public spaces and transportation hubs across more than 70 Texas cities throughout 2023. More than 300 billboards in Texas will be used to carry this message both on traditional billboards and digital units. The campaign, which officially relaunched on Thursday, January 26th in Austin, Texas with the First Lady of Texas Cecilia Abbottt, will urge members of the public who suspect human trafficking activity to call the Polaris National Human Trafficking Hotline and National Center of Missing and Exploited Children. The billboard reveal will take place on Friday, January 27th at 10:00am 8610 Airport Freeway (Hwy 183) North Richland Hills.

Messages will be displayed on advertising space donated by OAAT member companies, Clear Channel Outdoor, Lamar Advertising and Outfront Media. Additional media sponsors include iHeart Media-Texas and Univision-Texas.

The campaign received the Human Trafficking Impact of the Year in Transportation Award in 2021 from the US Department of Transportation. During the previous year the campaign ran, there was over a 30% increase in calls reported by the National Human Trafficking Hotline in the State of Texas. Since then, the number of trafficking reports has continued to rise.

“Texas is a national leader in the fight against human trafficking,” said First Lady of Texas Cecilia Abbott, “and the relaunch of this successful campaign will help us continue to raise awareness and call people to action against this heinous crime. I am grateful for the continued collaboration with A21 and the Outdoor Advertising Association of Texas as we work together to put an end to human trafficking.”

Anyone who suspects human trafficking activity should call the Polaris National Human Trafficking Hotline on 1-888-373-7888 or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST. Texas residents can also use iWatchTexas (iwatchtx.org) to report signs.