Texas Gov. Greg Abbott made a statement proclaiming April to be Sexual Assault Awareness Month in the state of Texas on April 6.
The purpose of the proclamation is to bring Texans together around raising awareness of sexual assault. It also honors the bravery of sexual assault survivors.
"We are committed to supporting survivors, bringing perpetrators to justice and ending sexual assault in the Lone Star State," Abbott said.
Abbott appealed to the bravery of Texans to combat sexual assault.
"Texans are not overcome when faced with adversity. Together, we can protect the vulnerable, help victims find healing and bring offenders to justice," Abbott said in a statement. "Our state is extremely grateful for the courage shown by survivors, who bravely share their stories and lend their voices to this cause, as well as for the many law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges and organizations like the Governor’s Sexual Assault Survivors’ Task Force, who continue to fight for the safety of all Texans. At this time, I encourage all Texans to join me in renewing our commitment to ending sexual assault and empowering survivors."
Abbott has also raised awareness to the specific struggle of undocumented immigrant children regarding sexual assault.
"In short, this facility is a health and safety nightmare," Abbott said in a Wednesday press conference, discussing the Freeman Coliseum where 1,300 undocumented migrant teens are reportedly being held.
In the press conference, Abbott called for the facility to be closed by the federal government in the wake of reports of sexual assaults against the teens at the facility.
The governor's office also created a survivor's task force that seeks to standardize the response to sexual violence across Texas and make the response collaborative and centered on trauma and survivors. One of the other aims of the task force is to bring together both professionals and survivors.
In addition to Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Jan. 28 was also named Sexual Assault Survivors Day in Texas by Abbott earlier this year. Texans can observe Sexual Assault Awareness Month by using the hashtag #TXSexualAssaultAwarenessMonth on social media.