Congressional DeskFebruary 20, 2010
Sacramento, CA — Just weeks after California Assembly Resolution 100 (Jones) was introduced to declare February, 2010 National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, 17-year-old Rebecca Layson was brutally murdered, allegedly by her teenage boyfriend and another teen male. Last Friday Layson´s body was found in a Citrus Heights park, showing evidence of blunt trauma. The alleged attackers, her 17-year-old boyfriend and 18-year-old Anton Adolf, are now also accused of raping her.
This tragedy highlights the epidemic of violence in teen couples, said Tara Shabazz, Executive Director of the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence (CPEDV). According to the National Network to End Domestic Violence, women between the ages of 16 and 24 experience intimate partner violence at a rate nearly three times higher than the national average.
"Rebecca Layson´s murder reminds us that we as a community must do more to educate and protect our young people," Shabazz said. "Her death, coming in the midst of a month dedicated to raising awareness about teen violence, should be our wake-up call. We cannot continue to ignore this serious threat to the safety of young people."
Assemblymember Dave Jones, Chair of the Assembly Health Committee and author of the teen dating violence resolution, agreed that the problem of intimate partner violence among teens is a health threat we must confront.
"Teen dating violence is a serious problem in our society," he said. "Violent relationships, particularly during adolescence, put the victim at greater risk for other serious health problems such as substance abuse, eating disorders and adult re-victimization. It is important to recognize that dating violence can occur regardless of socioeconomic status, race, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity. We must do everything possible to protect our children from violence."
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