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Parents of Murdered Dating Violence Victim, Legislators, and Teachers Unite to Launch 'MADE' - Moms and Dads for Education to Stop Teen Dating Abuse

Wednesday, December 3, 2008 General News
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NEW YORK, Dec. 2 Today, advocates for teendating violence education from across the country are coming together at LizClaiborne Inc. to launch 'MADE' -- Moms and Dads for Education to Stop TeenDating Abuse. Ann and Chris Burke, educators and parents of Lindsay Ann Burkewho was murdered by her abusive ex-boyfriend, are joining efforts with LizClaiborne Inc. and Redbook magazine on this national coalition that willconsist of parents, teachers and concerned citizens who are advocating forevery high school and middle school in the country to teach a curriculum aboutpreventing dating relationship violence and abuse.
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NAAG President, Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch, NationalFoundation for Women Legislators President Robin Read, Redbook Editor-in-ChiefStacy Morrison and New York City students and teachers are joining the Burkestoday at Liz Claiborne Inc. to support this new nationwide initiative.Together, they will urge parents across the country to take action by signingthe online MADE petition and to work within their state to encouragelegislation for teen dating violence education.
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"It is time for all parents to make the commitment and address teen datingviolence as a serious health issue," said Ann Burke. "I want to show allparents and teachers that having legislation passed is possible. With the helpof Attorney General Lynch, Rhode Island middle and high school students arenow receiving the education they deserve. I want to see teens in all 50 stateseducated on this issue."

At their annual meeting in June, the National Association of AttorneysGeneral (NAAG) passed the Teen Dating Violence Resolution. This resolutionendorsed the Lindsay Ann Burke Act, legislation proposed by Attorney GeneralLynch and passed in Rhode Island in 2007 that mandates dating violenceeducation for middle and high school students in all of the state's schooldistricts, as a model for all states. Most recently, the National Foundationfor Women Legislators (NFWL) introduced and passed a similar resolution thatspecifically encourages women legislators in every state to introduce andadopt legislation that mandates each public school district implement a policyagainst teen dating violence and abuse, and incorporate information on theissue into health education curricula in middle and/or high schools.

"Liz Claiborne is a corporate leader in the fight against domesticviolence and we are hopeful that with the launch of MADE, parents andeducators nationwide will unite and address teen dating violence and abuse onanother level," said Jane Randel, Vice President, Corporate Communications forLiz Claiborne Inc. "With the support and commitment of states legislators, wecan push for education in school districts in every state, so that all teenswill know what a healthy relationship really is."

MADE Petition

The prevalence of teen dating violence and abuse is a serious problem thatmust be confronted.

-- Nearly half of teen girls who have been in a relationship say theyhave been victims of verbal, physical, or sexual abuse by their boyfriends.(1)

-- One in five 13-14 year olds in relationships say they know friendsand peers who have been struck in anger (kicked, hit, slapped, or punched) bya boyfriend or girlfriend.(2)

I am a concerned parent/teacher/citizen, and I want all teenagers to betaught about healthy relationships, to learn how to recognize the signs ofabuse, and know where to get help if they are in an abusive relationship.

I am signing this online petition to ask my state legislators to introducelegislation that would ensure that every middle school and high school in thestate is teaching a course about teen dating abuse every year and has a strongpolicy against it. I support the resolution passed by all 50 attorneys generalrecommending new legislation to bring teen dating violence and abuse educationto all schools. Together, we can take a stand to protect our children andthrough education, break the cycle of domestic violence.

www.loveisnotabuse.com/made

About Liz Claiborne Inc.

Since 1991 Liz Claiborne Inc. has been working to end domestic violence.Through its Love Is Not Abuse program, the company provides information andtools that men, women, teens and corporate executives can use to learn moreabout the issue and find out how they can help end this epidemic.www.loveisnotabuse.com/made.

(1) Liz Claiborne Inc. Tweens and Teen Dating Violence Survey 2008conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited (TRU)

(2) Liz Claiborne Inc. Tweens and Teen Dating Violence Survey 2008conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited (TRU)PRESS CONTACT: Amy Terpeluk Tel: (212) 593-2792 [email protected]

SOURCE Liz Claiborne Inc.
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