Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued a proclamation that April 2025 will be known as Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month in the Lone Star State.
Abbott wrote in a news release about the proclamation that Texans must come together and raise awareness about sexual assault and recognize the courage of survivors in both the state and national context.
Charlie Health states that over 433,000 cases of sexual assault or rape occur annually among those over the age of 12, with a sexual assault occurring roughly every 68 seconds.
Additionally, only 310 out of every 1,000 sexual assaults are reported to the police, meaning more than two-thirds of the estimated assaults are unreported.
These assaults have been documented as having a major effect on the survivors, with the majority of sexual assault victims developing some form of mental health problem in the future, according to Charlie Health.
The Office of Governor Abbott established the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Task Force in 2019 to provide resources and justice to those who have dealt with sexual assault in the past.
Abbott stated in the news release that “Every person is worthy of respect and protection, especially from acts of sexual violence,” and the state will work to improve every aspect of awareness and defense.
“The State of Texas works tirelessly to defend Texans from these cruel offenses, making sure that each perpetrator is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” he added.
“Each April, we acknowledge the strength and courage of each survivor and recognize their resiliency and hope. As we work together to prevent sexual assault in our state, may we honor each survivor, raise awareness, and build a future where each Texan can live in safety.”
Texas Association Against Sexual Assault CEO Rose Luna also provided a statement in the news release, saying that the association is proud of the Lone Star State for “prioritizing efforts to assist sexual assault survivors and for its commitment to funding and supporting rape crisis centers.”
“Their impactful work provides critical resources and advocacy for survivors across the state.”
Texans looking to share their support for sexual assault survivors this month can use the hashtag #SAAPM2025 throughout April.