Parents Of Murdered Dating Violence Victim And Champions Of The Unprecedented Lindsay Ann Burke Act In Rhode Island Call For All Attorneys General To Mandate Teen Dating Abuse Curricula In Schools Across The Country

National campaign organized by Liz Claiborne Inc. will bring together Jaslene Gonzalez, America's Next Top Model winner, with celebrities and teen dating abuse survivors to enlist thousands of teens to endorse new Digital Teen Dating Bill of Rights

New York, NY - (September 25, 2007) - Ann and Chris Burke, educators and parents of Lindsay Ann Burke who was murdered by her abusive ex-boyfriend, are speaking out publicly to call on Attorneys General across the country to mandate education on teen dating abuse in every high school in their states.

Leading domestic violence organizations including loveisrespect.org, The National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline, the National Domestic Violence Hotline and Safe Horizon, celebrities such as Jaslene Gonzalez and Camille Winbush, teen survivors of dating abuse, New York City students and teachers are joining the Burkes today at Liz Claiborne Inc. to highlight the critical need for curricula on teen dating abuse and to launch the first Digital Teen Dating Bill of Rights, an online campaign to end teen dating abuse.

"How many more parents have to lose their children at the hands of an abusive partner? How many more teens have to suffer in an abusive relationship, fearing for their lives and afraid to tell anyone?" asks Ann Burke. "Parents and teens know little about the dynamics of teen dating violence because of the shame and stigma associated with it. We must change that."

After Lindsay's murder in September of 2005, the Burkes worked closely with Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch to create the Lindsay Ann Burke Act, the first legislation to mandate schools teach about teen dating abuse every year from 7th to 12th grade. The legislation also requires teacher training on the issue using curricula, such as Love is Not Abuse, a teen dating violence prevention curriculum which was developed by the Education Development Center and sponsored by Liz Claiborne Inc. It is already in more than 1,000 schools across the country and distributed without charge.

"It is clear that all sectors of society must be involved in the campaign to reduce teen dating abuse and break the cycle of intimate partner violence," says Jane Randel, Vice President, Corporate Communications, Liz Claiborne Inc. "This is not just a struggle for advocacy organizations. If we are to have an impact, we need a multifaceted approach with involvement from the private sector, government, the legal community, educators, non-profit organizations, the media, parents and teens themselves."

"Providing our teenagers with information that enables them to recognize the warning signs of unacceptable behavior - whether insidious or overt, in themselves or others - is a vital first step toward curbing dating violence. Letting teenagers know a support system exists that won't tolerate this type of dangerous abuse is another," said Rhode Island Attorney General Lynch. "In Rhode Island, with the Lindsay Ann Burke Law, we have a new mechanism in place to enhance protections for the segment of our population most vulnerable and at-risk for dating violence. 'It's Time to Talk Day' provides an important forum for putting, and keeping, dating violence in the forefront of our national crime-prevention agenda, and I am proud to be affiliated with it."

Reinforcing the message that teens must take action to stop abuse, courageous teen survivors, 19-year-old Cheryl from California and 18-year-old Kristie from Missouri are telling their stories and working with Liz Claiborne to expand the use of the Love is Not Abuse curriculum in their schools. Each young woman has also pledged to sign the new Digital Teen Dating Bill of Rights.

The Digital Teen Dating Bill of Rights is being launched today on www.loveisrespect.org, a national teen dating abuse interactive website and helpline created specifically for teens. It is operated by the National Domestic Violence Hotline and was founded by a gift from Liz Claiborne Inc. Since the February 2007 launch of loveisrespect.org, the Helpline has engaged in more than 6,118 telephone and chat contacts.

"We are asking everyone to take action," says, Sheryl Cates, CEO of the National Domestic Violence Hotline. "We hope teens will heed our call to help end teen dating abuse and violence by going to loveisrespect.org and signing the digital dating bill of rights."

Loveisrespect.org is working closely with MySpace to launch the Digital Teen Dating Bill of Rights with an online video campaign where teens can learn about dating abuse, add their own video statement on how they want to be treated in a dating relationship and encourage their friends to make the pledge.