Public Awareness

February is Teen Dating Violence
Awareness and Prevention Month


Proclamation (printer-friendly/pdf)


Whereas, domestic violence is increasingly recognized as a serious and prevalent crime within our society, bringing national attention to these behaviors that destroy individual lives and entire families; while this form of abuse sadly continues, it is also prevalent among adolescents as they begin dating and can last into and throughout adulthood; and

Whereas, teen dating violence – including physical, emotional and sexual assault, or harassment via texting, email or instant messaging – is a reality for many teenagers, and one of which many parents and guardians are unaware; and

Whereas, dating violence involves physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, economic, technological or other abusive behavior committed by a person intending to harm, threaten, intimidate, harass, coerce, control, isolate, restrain or monitor another person with whom they have or have had a dating relationship; and


Whereas, national studies and surveys of teen dating relationships and
experiences produced the following specific findings: more than 1 in 3 teens report that their partners consistently wanted to know where they were and who they were with, and 21% said they had been in a relationship with a partner who wanted to keep them from seeing family or friends; and


Whereas, in New York State, 11% of high school students surveyed report that they were intentionally hit, slapped or physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend during the previous 12 months, 8% reported they were physically forced to have sexual intercourse when they did not want to, and more than 1,600 people under the age of 21 have sought a civil order of protection as the result of a change in State law that enables teens to obtain this potentially life-saving measure; and


Whereas, New York State has focused on the teen dating violence issue through other highly effective measures and actions, including the development of public awareness campaigns, printed and electronic materials addressing teens, friends and family, and through outreach via social media; and


Whereas, both Houses of the U.S. Congress have declared February as “National Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month,” and New York State joins in this observance by encouraging statewide youth, families, schools, law enforcement communities, government agencies, elected officials, civic organizations and other interested groups to show support for organizations and individuals that provide critical advocacy and services of assistance to victims of teen dating violence;


Now, Therefore, I, Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York, do hereby proclaim February 2011 as

Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month

in the Empire State.


G i v e n under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State at

the Capitol in the City of Albany this nineteenth day

of January in the year two thousand eleven.


Governor

Secretary to the Governor