NATION’S EXPERTS,GOVERNMENT & CORPORATE LEADERS,ADVOCATES & SURVIVORS UNITE TO RAISE AWARENE
New York — December 8, 2011 —Break the Cycle, the National Dating Abuse Helpline, loveisrespect.org, the National Network to End Domestic Violence, the National Foundation for Women Legislators, Seventeen magazine and Mariska Hargitay’s Joyful Heart Foundation join partner Liz Claiborne Inc. today for It’s Time to Talk Day, a day dedicated to ensuring that Americans speak-up about subjects that most people simply prefer not to discuss— domestic violence, teen dating violence, sexual assault and intimate partner abuse.
More than 60 high profile speakers will lead the conversation sharing their own experiences with the issues of domestic violence, sexual assault and teen dating abuse, the innovative ways they are working to combat these problems and the steps we can all take to end the cycle of abuse. In addition to national and local radio hosts, bloggers and journalists will be on-site, interviewing guests about the need for increased awareness and education about these issues.
Throughout the day, guests including U.S. Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women Director, Susan B. Carbon, Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr., Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Domestic Violence, Yolanda Jimenez, CNN Headline News Now Anchor, Christi Paul and the Editor-in-Chief of Seventeen magazine, Ann Shoket, will be interviewed by leading radio hosts from across the country for “Talk Radio Row” on domestic violence at the Liz Claiborne Inc. headquarters.
It’s Time To Talk Day additionally aims to make the public aware of the new information and resources available about dating violence and abuse, including the latest data from the “Liz Claiborne Inc.’s Love Is Not Abuse 2011 College Dating Violence and Abuse Poll,” that shows nearly half of dating college women (43%) report having ever experienced violent or abusive dating behaviors, and more than one in five (22%) report actual physical abuse, sexual abuse or threats of physical violence. Despite the high number of students experiencing these types of abuse, more than one-third of college students (38%) say they would not know how to get help on campus if they found themselves in an abusive relationship.
In direct response to these new findings, partner of It’s Time To Talk Day,
Loveisrespect.org, is launching an initiative to target college students with new, relevant resources to address the issue of dating abuse. Loveisrespect.org is a collaboration between Break the Cycle and the National Dating Abuse Helpline.
It’s Time To Talk Day will also feature resources for parents like the iPhone app from Liz Claiborne Inc.’s Love Is Not Abuse, a teen dating abuse prevention organization. The first-of-its-kind, the Love Is Not Abuse iPhone app is helping parents not only see, but experience firsthand, what teen dating abuse feels like, and is empowering them to talk to their kids about it.
“It’s Time to Talk Day is an opportunity for individuals from all sectors — government leaders, the media, the non-profit sector and the private sector – to come together, raise awareness and start talking about what we can do to prevent domestic violence and dating abuse.” said Jane Randel, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Liz Claiborne Inc. “We are thrilled to have so many representatives from across the board, standing with us for our eighth annual It’s Time To Talk Day. Joining with our partners to engage the public in this conversation is the first, vital step we must take to put a stop to the devastating cycle of abuse that exists in our society.”
The winner of the Respect Love. Love Respect dating abuse and healthy relationships essay contest, will also be featured at It’s Time To Talk Day. Respect Love. Love Respect is the teen dating abuse prevention initiative of the New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence. The contest was sponsored by Liz Claiborne Inc.
About Liz Claiborne Inc.
Since 1991 Liz Claiborne Inc. has been working to end domestic violence. Through its Love Is Not Abuse program, the company provides information and tools that men, women, teens and corporate executives can use to learn more about the issue and find out how they can help end this epidemic. Visit them at
www.loveisnotabuse.com.
