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1 in 3 teens are victims of abusive partner
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Posted on Feb 13 2019
Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios is flanked by anti-violence advocates as he signs the teen domestic violence awareness and prevention month proclamation at Kagman High School. (Erwin Encinares)
Nationwide statistics suggest that one in three teenagers are victims of abuse by a dating partner, exceeding other rates of violence among youth, while about 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner in a single year.
These numbers were provided by the Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, or NMCASV, in a proclamation signing yesterday at Kagman High School that declares February as Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month.
According to the proclamation, females aged 16 to 24 are more vulnerable to dating violence and experience it at a rate triple the national average. While the national average was not disclosed, the proclamation noted that one in three teenagers are victims of an abusive partner, while an estimated 1.5 million high school students experience physical abuse from a dating partner within a single year nationwide.
Because of this alarming frequency and numbers, Kagman High School principal Leila Staffler said it is important to educate teenagers as early as possible to not carry over bad habits into adulthood.
“It’s an issue that does exist,” she said, adding that it exists whenever teens start exploring relationships.
“Having awareness of what a healthy relationship [looks like] is really important so that they would start their lives with healthy relationships rather than experiencing unhealthy relationships, only to find out later in life that…it wasn’t [healthy at all],” she said.
She noted that the proclamation is a way for the community to break the cycle of violence.
In a separate interview, Maisie Tenorio, executive director of the NMCASV, noted that she brought the proclamation signing to the students themselves, to raise awareness. Last year, the proclamation was signed at Marianas High School.
“This is an opportunity for us and for the students to make their voices heard because this is an issue and it’s a time, moment, and opportunity for us adults to listen about what they are going through,” she said.
According to Tenorio, the school for the next proclamation signing has yet to be chosen.
