By: California Partnership to End Domestic Violence
SACRAMENTO, Calif. Feb. 6, 2012 - In the wake of the January 27th murder of 15-year-old Myrna Umanzor, the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence (the Partnership) calls on state lawmakers to support the resolution introduced today by Assemblymember Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens), designating February 2012 as Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. Police suspect Umanzor's fatal stabbing was at the hands of her 19-year-old boyfriend, who killed himself the next day.
The resolution (ACR 101), introduced by Assemblymember Lara and sponsored by the Partnership, encourages all Californians to observe Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month with programs and activities that raise awareness and support young people in learning healthy relationship skills. Late last year, a teen girl in Lara's home district was killed on school grounds, prompting him to take leadership on this urgent issue.
"The tragic story of Cindi Santana at Southeast High School shook our community into action," he said. "We must implement and sustain comprehensive prevention efforts that will reach our students in a meaningful way. It is my hope that we will empower someone who is being victimized to come forward and speak up."
Approximately one in three adolescent girls in the United States is a victim of physical, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner—a figure that far exceeds victimization rates for other types of violence affecting youth. Victims of teen dating violence are at an increased risk for a host of adverse outcomes, including truancy, alcohol and drug use, eating disorders, depression and suicide.
The resolution encourages students, schools, families and community groups across California to collaboratively address teen dating violence, and to empower teenagers with the skills to keep themselves safe.
"We commend Assemblymember Lara for calling attention to the crisis of teen dating violence," said Partnership executive director Tara Shabazz. "It will take parents, schools and community partners working together to prevent dating abuse. Advocates and policymakers must stand with California schools and other allies to ensure that the tragedy that happened in San Leandro is not repeated."
Related Websites
San Leandro killing: http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/east_bay&id=8527104
National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month website: www.teendvmonth.org
Presidential Proclamation for National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/01/31/presidential-proclamation-national-teen-dating-violence-awareness-and-pr
The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence is California's statewide domestic violence coalition, with organizational and individual members across California. Working at the local, state and national levels for nearly 30 years, the Partnership has a long track record of successfully passing over 100 pieces of legislation on behalf of domestic violence victims and their children. As the unified voice for California's domestic violence agencies, the Partnership works to inspire, inform and connect all those concerned with this issue, because together we're stronger. With offices in Sacramento, the Partnership's member programs span the entire state.
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