February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TVDAM). The theme for this year is “Respect That!” This theme was selected by the Love Is Respect Youth Council and highlights the importance of treating partners with dignity and respect.

Teen dating violence includes physical, emotional, sexual, or digital abuse in a current dating relationship or by a former dating partner. Young people experience violence at alarming rates. According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey:

• Over 70% of women and over 60% of men first experienced intimate partner violence (sexual or physical violence, and/or stalking) under the age of 25.

• One in four women first experienced intimate partner violence prior to the age of 18 and 49% experienced rape as a minor.

• Over 80% of women and men both reports having experienced their first rape under the age of 25.

• Sexual violence is usually committed by someone the survivor knows. Over 28% of girls who experienced sexual violence under the age of 18 were raped by a current or former intimate partner.

• Youth who experience sexual violence as children or teens are more likely to experience sexual violence in adulthood. Thirty-five percent of women who were raped as minors were also raped as adults, compared to 10% of women raped as an adult who were not raped as minors.

Experiencing violence in youth can have long-lasting impacts, making it all the more critical to prevent violence before it occurs. By promoting social norms that protect against violence (such as bystander programs and engaging men and boys) and supporting survivors, we can lessen the impact of sexual violence and prevent future victimization.