ABQ Times

The Albuquerque Bar Association hosted a presentation titled "Domestic and Dating Violence: Special Issues Involving Teens and Young Adults/Title IX" at the State Bar of New Mexico on February 18. This event was part of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, which takes place every February to highlight stories of survival and raise awareness about domestic violence.

The panel featured five guest presenters, including four representatives from The University of New Mexico (UNM): Lawrence Jones, a UNM Political Science professor and former domestic violence judge who served as the moderator; MaryEllen Garcia, CEO of the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Heather Jaramillo from the UNM Office of Compliance, Ethics & Equal Opportunity; and two UNM students, Aimet Salinas and Violet Webb.

Jones emphasized the importance of addressing dating violence throughout the year. "It's important to be legally and socially cognizant of this issue, not only for February but really for the entire year, because dating violence is a cancer and needs to be remedied and addressed on an ongoing basis," he stated.

According to a 2024 NM Victimization Report, over half of New Mexico residents have experienced domestic or sexual violence. Nationally, statistics indicate that one in three U.S. teens will face physical, sexual, or emotional abuse in a relationship before adulthood. Additionally, 43% of U.S. college women report encountering violent or abusive dating behaviors.

The diverse backgrounds of the panelists provided various perspectives on the topic. Salinas shared her personal connection to the issue through her work as a paralegal in domestic violence cases and witnessing loved ones endure toxic relationships. She remarked on how these experiences resonate with her deeply: "It hit home, just doing more research on it, the psychological facts, something my own friends are going through."

Webb expressed her thoughts on participating in such discussions: "I think the topic in general is really stigmatized and I think having an open conversation and being able to give my thoughts and opinions about it was powerful."

For those affected by domestic violence or seeking mental health support, resources are available both on campus at UNM—such as LoboRESPECT Advocacy Center, Women's Resource Center, Agora Crisis Center, TimelyCare—and off-campus facilities like S.A.F.E. House, Enlace Comunitario, and Domestic Violence Resource Center.