Right now, federal law does not require health or sex education to include sexual assault prevention – but that could change with a new bill introduced by Senators Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Tim Kaine (D-VA).
The Teach Safe Relationships Act of 2015, which was introduced earlier this month, would require all public secondary schools in the country to include teaching “safe relationship behavior” in order to help prevent domestic violence and sexual assault. Women between 16 and 24 experience the highest rate of intimate partner violence, making the bill particularly important in ending an epidemic of sexual violence.
McCaskill, who has also pushed legislation to combat military sexual assault, noted that sexual assault prevention starts young. “One thing we’ve learned in our work to curb sexual violence on campuses and in the military is that many young people learn about sex and relationships before they turn 18,” she said in a recent statement. “And one of the most effective ways to prevent sexual violence among adults is to educate our kids at a younger age.”
She was echoed by Kaine. “Education can be a key tool to increase public safety by raising awareness and helping to prevent sexual assault and domestic violence, but many students are leaving high school without learning about these crimes that disproportionately impact young people,” he said in a press release. “With the alarming statistics on the prevalence of sexual assault on college campuses and in communities across the country, secondary schools should play a role in promoting safe relationship behavior and teaching students about sexual assault and dating violence.”
The Act came after Sen. Kaine met with members of One Less, a University of Virginia group that advocates for rape and sexual assault survivors. UVA’s policies surrounding campus sexual assault have been in the spotlight since Rolling Stone released an article about the college’s mishandling of a gang rape.
Media Resources: The Huffington Post 2/3/2015; Sen. Claire McCaskill Press Release 2/3/2015; Tim Kaine
