First Lady Cecilia Abbott has announced that the Governor’s Response Against Child Exploitation (GRACE) initiative will host its sixth annual Week of Prayer to End Human Trafficking from January 5 to January 11, 2025. The event is a statewide, interfaith effort held during Human Trafficking Prevention Month and encourages the faith-based community to unite in prayer, learn about human trafficking, and find ways to help prevent exploitation and support survivors.
“Nothing is stronger than Texans standing together through prayer and action,” said First Lady Abbott. “During this week of prayer, I encourage everyone to take a moment and join GRACE in its efforts to protect the vulnerable and stand against exploitation. Together, we can bring the support, healing, and justice that victims of human trafficking deserve.”
The announcement included invitations from Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) Commissioner Audrey O’Neill for Texans to participate in the week of prayer. DFPS Director of Human Trafficking Blanca Lance also introduced resources for Human Trafficking Prevention and Awareness Month.
The daily intentions throughout the week focus on exposing exploiters, raising awareness in communities, supporting trauma-informed investigations, praying for healing for those exploited, supporting justice system workers, ensuring safety for victims currently being exploited, and encouraging personal reflection on actions individuals can take.
The Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott has prioritized child sex trafficking prevention as part of its broader initiatives across Texas. These efforts align with other statewide programs focused on economic development, education enhancement, job creation, individual liberties protection, parental empowerment in schooling decisions, and border security. More information about these initiatives can be found on the official website.
Governor Greg Abbott has led these efforts since his election in 2014. His office operates from Austin at the State Insurance Building as part of the executive branch serving all regions of Texas (source). The office has also been recognized nationally; Greg Abbott was named among TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in 2024 (source).
