AUGUSTA (AP) — Maine Gov. Paul LePage is helping bring to light the problem of child abuse.

The Republican governor joined law enforcement officials and advocates at the Statehouse Thursday in honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Maine is honoring the state’s Child Advocacy Centers that are focused on investigating and responding to child sexual abuse.

Advocates estimate that one in four girls and one in six boys will experience sexual abuse before they reach age 18.

The governor called child sexual abuse the “most heinous crime on the face of the earth.” He says Maine is working to reduce the turnaround time for hearing sexual assault cases.

LePage said the state should raise awareness of the problem all months of the year so it can be eradicated.