Washington, DC -- In an effort to help prevent teen dating violence, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution designating February 4-8, 2008, as National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Prevention Week. Teen dating violence ranges from anything involving physical or emotional abuse to pressure to participate in unwanted sexual activities.

The resolution, which was cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and six of their Senate colleagues, calls on government agencies, private organizations, and public officials to promote prevention activities in their communities to educate teens and their parents about the high incidence of teen dating violence.

"Teen dating violence is a serious problem. In September 2005, Lindsay Burke of North Kingstown was murdered by her ex-boyfriend at the young age of 23. She was a daughter, a sister, a friend, and a teacher with a bright future whose life was cruelly taken," said Reed, who has worked in the Senate to strengthen domestic violence laws. "Lindsey's parents have worked tirelessly to raise awareness among young people about the dangers of relationship abuse so that other families don't have to go through what they did. I am proud to support them in their efforts."

"Chris and Anna Burke have transformed a terrible tragedy into powerful advocacy," said Whitehouse, a former U.S. Attorney and Rhode Island Attorney General. "I'm proud to stand with the Burke family, and with Jack Reed, to make it clear that violence in teenage relationships is a dangerous and widespread problem in our country."

The crime of teen dating violence includes physical, emotional, and sexual assault; and harassment via text messaging, email or Instant Messaging.

• One in three female teens in a dating relationship report having feared for their safety.

• 30% of teens in a dating relationship have been text-messaged 10, 20, or 30 times an hour by a partner finding out where they are, what they are doing or who they are with.

• One in five teens in a serious relationship report having been hit slapped or pushed by a partner.

• One in four girls in a relationship report having been pressured to go further sexually than they really wanted.

The Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Initiative was spearheaded by teenagers across the nation who chose to take a stand and put a stop to teen dating violence. Initiated in 2004 by the American Bar Association and now supported by dozens of national, state and local organizations, the call to end teen dating violence was formally recognized in 2006 and 2007 when both Houses of Congress declared the first week in February "National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week."