WHEREAS, Teenage dating violence is a serious and growing problem throughout California; and

WHEREAS, Dating violence is controlling, abusive, and aggressive behavior in a relationship, that can occur in heterosexual or homosexual relationships. It can include verbal, emotional, physical, or sexual abuse, or a combination of any of those; and

WHEREAS, One in three teenagers has experienced violence in a dating relationship; and

WHEREAS, Anyone can be a victim of dating violence. Both boys and girls are victims, but boys and girls tend to abuse their partners in different ways. Girls are more likely to yell, threaten to hurt themselves, pinch, slap, scratch, or kick, while boys are more likely to physically injure or force unwanted sexual activity. Some teenage victims experience violence occasionally while others are abused much more often; and

WHEREAS, Young women, ages 16 to 24 years, inclusive, experience the highest rates of dating violence; and

WHEREAS, Teenage victims are highly vulnerable to being revictimized; one study found that 80 percent of youths reporting violent behavior had been victimized two or more times; and

WHEREAS, Among female pupils ages 15 to 20 years, inclusive, who reported at least one violent act during a dating relationship, 24 percent reported experiencing extremely violent incidents such as rape or the use of weapons against them; and

WHEREAS, In a study of California high school pupils, up to 7 percent indicated that they were victims of teenage dating violence; and

WHEREAS, Approximately one in five female public high school pupils reported ever experiencing physical or sexual violence from dating partners; and

WHEREAS, Teenagers are less likely to report their victimization than adults because of the shock, shame, and stigma attached to being a victim of a crime. These obstacles represent a barrier to vulnerable teenagers seeking help; and

WHEREAS, Increased awareness of teenage dating violence is the first step toward prevention of this type of abuse; and

WHEREAS, Teenagers deserve to be in a relationship free of the fear of violence. They have a right to have safe relationships; and

WHEREAS, Governmental, private organizations, public officials as well as private citizens must work together to raise the awareness of the high incidence of teenage dating violence and to promote prevention strategies; now, therefore, be it