HOUSTON, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Governor of Texas Greg Abbott on Friday proclaimed January as Human Trafficking Prevention Month in the state.
The governor said the State of Texas will not tolerate the inhumane practice of human trafficking, adding "Texas' Child Sex Trafficking Team has implemented a number of statewide initiatives to help bring an end to the horrendous practice of child sexual exploitation, but we still have much work to do."
In addition to issuing this proclamation, the governor encouraged all Texans to learn more about the risks and indicators of human trafficking and to do their part to help end these horrific crimes.
In 2017, Texas officials launched an initiative to help victims of human trafficking after years of pressure for the state to provide better care, and named Kim Grabert as the state's first director of human trafficking prevention.
Houston is one of the largest hubs for sex trafficking in the United States. A recent University of Texas study estimated the state has more than 300,000 human trafficking victims.
Texas has long tried to address the problem of human trafficking in the state, but Texans have been critical of the government's efforts at providing rehabilitative care for victims of the crime.
In 2014, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called for a statewide effort to help over 79,000 minors and youth victims of sex trafficking in the state, but the Legislature has done little to address the problem.
