Res. No. 456

Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature to mandate that the New York State Education Department include intimate partner abuse awareness and prevention programs in all public middle school and high school athletic programs.

By Council Members Gibson and Menchaca

                     Whereas, According to the United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), dating violence is a type of intimate partner violence that occurs between two people in a close relationship and can include, but not limited to, physical, emotional or sexual abuse or stalking; and

                     Whereas, While dating and sexual abuse can affect women and men regardless of their age, teens and young women are especially vulnerable; and

Whereas, The CDC reports that one in eleven adolescents say they have been the victim of physical dating violence; and

Whereas, According to the Family Violence Prevention Fund one in five tweens-age 11 to 14- say their friends are victims of dating violence and nearly half who are in relationships know friends who are verbally abused; and

Whereas, According to the NYC High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey of 2011, in 2011, 10.4% of male and female high school students reported being hit, slapped, or physically hurt on purpose by a boyfriend or girlfriend within the past year; and

Whereas, The New York City Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence (MOCDV) notes that in 2010, nearly 1,100 individuals between the ages of 17 and 21, and 54 youth under the age of 16 filed family offense petitions in New York State Family Courts as victims of violence in an “intimate relationship” (expanded in 2008 by legislation to include dating relationships in which the partners have no children and are not married); and

Whereas, In addition, a March 2014 New York Daily News article states that according to recent findings, teen boys who played football or basketball are twice as likely to admit abusing a girlfriend; and

Whereas, These statistics indicate that more needs to be done to educate youth about healthy relationships; and

Whereas, Unhealthy relationships have long-term negative effects on emotional and physical well-being; and

Whereas, The CDC reports that youth who are victims are more likely to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety as well as engage in unhealthy behaviors such as using drugs and alcohol; and

Whereas, Furthermore, victims might exhibit antisocial behaviors and think about suicide; and

Whereas, Some researchers believe that sports participation which encourages aggressive behaviors needs to be countered with education and tools to learn how to avoid these behaviors from spilling over in everyday life; and

 Whereas, Healthy relationship education is an essential component to the full development of young adults; now, therefore, be it

                     Resolved, that the New York City Council calls upon the New York State Legislature to mandate that the New York State Education Department include intimate partner abuse awareness and prevention programs in all public middle school and high school athletic programs.

LS 2769

10/8/14

JP