Presidential Documents

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 22 / Wednesday, February 3, 2016 / Presidential Documents 5879 

Proclamation 9393 of January 29, 2016 

National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention 

Month, 2016 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

Teen dating violence is a serious violation that can affect a young person’s 

safety, development, and sense of comfort. Perpetrated by a current or past 

intimate partner, dating violence takes many forms, including physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, and can occur in person or through electronic 

communication and social media. Violent dating relationships can lead to 

depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol use, and thoughts of suicide, and 

victims may continue to experience detrimental effects throughout their 

lives. During National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention 

Month, we recognize the urgency needed in addressing this problem and 

recommit to preventing it by educating our youth about its dangers and 

consequences, and reaffirm the basic human right to be free from violence 

and abuse. 

Dating violence may include physical force, such as kicking, hitting, and 

shoving; emotional abuse, consistent monitoring, and isolation; or sexual 

assault. Dating violence can occur in any relationship, whether it is casual 

and short-term or long-term and monogamous, and any young person can 

experience dating violence or other unhealthy relationship behaviors—regardless of gender, race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic 

status. Approximately 1 in 10 teenagers reports being physically or sexually 

victimized by a dating partner, and too many other victims do not report 

it. The cycle of violence can begin with anyone at any time, and as a 

society, we must acknowledge that we each have a role to play in teaching 

children about healthy relationships. In their formative years, teens are 

influenced by their early relationships, and the example set by those around 

them can have lasting consequences. 

My Administration is working diligently to address teen dating violence 

in a number of ways. Vice President Joe Biden’s 1is2many initiative is 

strengthening efforts to reduce dating violence among those most vulnerable, 

particularly young women between the ages of 16 and 24, and is utilizing 

technology to engage students, teens, and young adults in this cause. To 

build on our efforts, I established the White House Task Force to Protect 

Students from Sexual Assault. The Task Force will, in addition to working 

to combat sexual violence on college campuses, explore ways its recommendations may apply to elementary and secondary schools across our 

country. My Administration will keep forging a future in which no teenager 

must suffer due to having an abusive partner. 

All Americans have a role to play in ending dating violence and fostering 

safe, healthy environments for our young people. This month, let us seize 

our responsibility to set positive examples for our Nation’s teenagers by 

celebrating and demonstrating healthy relationships, and let us recommit 

to ensuring all people who may be in an abusive relationship have access 

to help and support. Together, we can reach a day when no young person 

knows the pain caused by dating violence. 

If you or someone you know is involved in an abusive relationship of 

any kind, you can get immediate and confidential support by calling 

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5880 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 22 / Wednesday, February 3, 2016 / Presidential Documents 

1–866–331–9474, texting ‘‘LoveIs’’ to 22522, or visiting LoveIsRespect.org. 

For additional information and resources on dating violence, please visit 

VetoViolence.CDC.gov. 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States 

of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution 

and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim February 2016 as 

National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. I call 

upon all Americans to support efforts in their communities and schools, 

and in their own families, to empower young people to develop healthy 

relationships throughout their lives and to engage in activities that prevent 

and respond to teen dating violence. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth 

day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand sixteen, and of 

the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and 

fortieth. 

[FR Doc. 2016–02220 

Filed 2–2–16; 11:15 am] 

Billing code 3295–F6–P 


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