WHEREAS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines sexual violence as asignificant public health problem affecting the lives of millions of people in the United States, which can lead to long-lasting consequences in a survivor’s physical and mental health; and

WHEREAS, according to the CDC’s National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, one in five women and one in 59 men have reported being raped at some point in their lives; and

WHEREAS, the survey also reports one in four women and one in seven men report having been the victim of severe physical violence by an intimate partner, while one in six women and one in 19 men report having been stalked during their lifetime; and

WHEREAS, sexual violence also affects students between the ages of 12-18 in staggering numbers; and

WHEREAS, according to the National Center for Victims of Crime, approximately one-third of all perpetrators of sexual violence are juveniles; and

WHEREAS, in their studies of LGBTQ youth in secondary schools, the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) states 82% of LGBTQ youth report being bullied at school about sexual orientation; and

WHEREAS, our students in NYC, in and out-of-school, are the victims of sexual violence of all types – in-person, online bullying, anti-LGBTQ harassment , unwanted touching, assault, and rape; and

WHEREAS, our current political and social climate has led to increased conversation about sexual violence as well as consent; and

WHEREAS, Chancellor's Regulation A-831 mandates the submission of a Consolidated School and Youth Development Plan including the identification of staff members who will receive training and offer support to students who have experienced violence in school; and

WHEREAS, effective Jan. 1, 2017, California will become the first state to require all high schools to teach at least one lesson on affirmative consent and sexual violence prevention in mandatory health classes; therefore be it

RESOLVED, the United Federation of Teachers will urge the New York City Department of Education to build upon the requirements of Chancellor's Regulation A-831 by requiring a series of developmentally appropriate lessons on consent, healthy sexuality and dating relationships to all middle and high school students, similar to the lessons on HIV/AIDS that are taught in our schools; and be it further

RESOLVED, the UFT will partner with and encourage the NYCDOE to support the expansion of the Respect for All initiative so that school communities serve as sites where all students and staff are safe from acts of sexual harassment and violence because of ongoing positive and developmentally appropriate engagement around appropriate behavior, consent, and healthy relationships; and be it further

RESOLVED, the UFT will urge the NYCDOE to present professional learning to educators so that we may serve as informed role models by contributing to respectful cultures in our classrooms and schools, identifying and intervening for students at risk of participating in inappropriate conduct, and successfully supporting students who have experienced sexual violence; and be it further

RESOLVED, the UFT will expand our BRAVE initiative so that information about consent and healthy intimate relationships is available for presentation to middle and high school students and their families.