What Will it Take to End Youth Violence?

A group of young boys beat and raped their classmate as a crowd of onlookers stood nearby. After this recent incident in which a fifteen-year-old Richmond girl was gang raped outside of her high school, many people are realizing just how prevalent and horrifying youth violence can be.

Sadly, crimes like these are not uncommon. According to the 2006 survey from the U.S. Department of Justice:

• Children between the ages of 12-19 are most likely to be a victim of personal crimes
• Girls ages 12-15 are most like to be rape victims
• Girls ages 16-19 are the second most likely to be rape victims

At Break the Cycle, we provide the first step to stopping similar incidents from happening - violence prevention education. With support from Mary Kay Inc., Break the Cycle created [Ending Violence], an innovative curriculum that is bringing healthy relationship education into the 21st century.

You can help Break the Cycle prevent abuse. Sign Mary Kay's petition asking lawmakers to require violence prevention education in schools.

-Published on November 5, 2009