The Cincinnati Enquirer, a newspaper distributed from Cincinnati, Ohio, United States, reports on the state’s failing grade in protecting women from domestic violence. Thirteen years ago, the parents of a girl murdered by her ex-boyfriend founded the nonprofit Citizens Against Domestic Violence (CADV). CADV travels to schools and talks to students about the dangers of teen dating violence. The article references a recently released study by Break the Cycle, an organization combating domestic violence. This study indicates that Ohio is among 11 US states to receive a failing grade for its laws addressing the needs of domestic violence victims. According to the article, in February, two bills were introduced in the Ohio legislature. One addresses orders of protection against juveniles and the other requires schools to educate students on teen dating violence.
Using data collected from the United States-based Dating Violence Resource Center, a program of the National Center for Victims of Crime, the article gives the following statistics:
• About 40% of teen girls age 14-17 say they know someone their age who has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend
• About 1 in 5 high school girls report abuse by a boyfriend
• Young women ages 16 to 24 experience the highest rates of relationship violence
For more statistics visit the Dating Violence Resource Center.
For the full article click here.
Compiled from: Johnston, John, “They Know from Experience: Dating Violence Can Kill”, The Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 April 2009.