Dems fight to prevent teen dating violence

Lawmakers introduce bills to raise awareness, protect victims

In recent months, Democratic deprivation used to maintain power and control
lawmakers have worked over an intimate partner.1 In the United States, a
tirelessly to raise awareness of woman is assaulted or beaten every nine seconds.2
and prevent teen dating Women aged 18 to 24 face the highest rates of
violence. I believe teen dating intimate partner violence.3
violence is unacceptable, and I
am happy to join the Sadly, younger children are also at risk of dating
committed to stop violence violence. One in five children between the ages of
and protect more young, at- 11 and 14 say they have a friend who is a victim of
risk Ohioans. dating violence.4 Dating violence, especially at a
young age, is a source of serious trauma, and many
Earlier this year, State Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-Akron) teens who are victims of dating violence are more
championed the successful passage of House Bill likely to be depressed and perform poorly in school.
(HB) 1, bipartisan legislation to allow victims of Furthermore, teen dating violence can lead to a
dating violence to obtain civil protection orders cycle of abuse and violence that lasts a lifetime.
against their attacker. Previously, people in
ongoing, substantial, Teen dating violence
intimate and romantic puts at risk the safety of
relationships were not our children, our
included in Ohios families, our
definition of victims of communities and our
domestic violence, future. Ohio House
leaving them without Dems are proud to fight
important, life-saving against teen dating
protections. violence so that every
Ohioan has an
Additionally, Rep. Sykes opportunity to live
introduced HB 94, without fearing violence
legislation to establish from an intimate
February as Teen *From NCSL at: http://www.ncsl.org/research/human-services/ partner.
Dating Violence domestic-violence-domestic-abuse-definitions-and-relationships.aspx#1
Awareness Month
in Ohio, in an effort to raise more awareness to this
important issue.

The National Dating Violence Hotline defines

intimate partner violence, which includes dating
violence, as a repetitive pattern of behaviors 1
http://www.thehotline.org/is-this-abuse/abuse-defined/
including physical or sexual violence, threats, 2
http://domesticviolencestatistics.org/domestic-violence-
statistics/
intimidation, emotional abuse and economic 3
https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/ndv0312.pdf
4
http://www.caepv.org/about/newsdetail.php?
newsID=280