Texas First Lady Anita Perry on Wednesday proclaimed January Stalking Awareness Month, the first of its kind in Texas.

According to the National Center for Victims of Crime, more than one million women and 400,000 men are victims of stalking each year.

Statistics show 52 percent of stalking victims are females between 18 and 29 years old, and one in 12 women and one in 45 men will be stalked in their lifetime. Advocates say many times victims know their stalker, and it's important for them to know that stalking acts can lead to serious offenses such as murder.

“Stalking isn’t just frightening, it can be deadly. And more importantly, it’s a crime,” Perry said in a media release. “By raising awareness about the prevalence of stalking we can encourage victims to tell someone and also share the message of hope and recovery.”

That's why Perry, stalking survivor Laura Zarate and others with the Interpersonal Violence Prevention Collaborative of Texas got together at the State Capitol to stress the need for prevention of this crime in Texas.

“Victims of stalking are not alone. Through the network of victim advocates across Texas, they not only have a safe haven, but a voice,” Perry said.

Texas is not the first state to designate January as stalking prevention month.