February is Violence Prevention Month

Joan Burke, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, today proclaimed February as Violence Prevention Month in Newfoundland and Labrador. The theme for this month is "People have a right to a safe and secure environment."

As lead minister for the Violence Prevention Initiative, Minister Burke is pleased to be joined by John Ottenheimer, Minister of Health and Community Services; Tom Hedderson, Minister of Education; Tom Marshall, Minister of Justice; Kathy Dunderdale, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development and Minister Responsible for the Rural Secretariat; Trevor Taylor, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture and Minister Responsible for Labrador; and, Tom Rideout, Minister of Transportation and Works and Minister Responsible for Aboriginal Affairs in proclaiming the month.

"The first step in addressing this issue is to take personal responsibility for protecting ourselves and those we love by creating homes that are free from violence and abuse," said Minister Burke. "Family violence is particularly devastating because it often occurs in the privacy of the home, which is meant to be a place of shelter and security. Because it takes place in private, many Canadians don�t realize how widespread it can be."

The vision of the Violence Prevention Initiative is to have people living in safe, caring communities where there is respect for each other and violence is unacceptable. According to statistics, women, children and seniors are most vulnerable to violence, with women experiencing the highest rates of violence in all groups. Violence against women also tends to be more severe, frequent and to cause more serious physical and psychological injury.

By working with community partners from the Provincial Association Against Family Violence, the Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women, the Seniors Resource Centre, the Citizens� Crime Prevention Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, and six regional coordinating committees, the Violence Prevention Initiative is able to raise awareness of the root causes of violence and create government policies and programs which improve services to victims.

"Prevention can happen everywhere," said Minister Burke. "In addition to our homes, we are just as responsible for ensuring our schools, workplaces and streets are also safe. We all need to make the message clear that violence is not acceptable. Although the elimination of violence may seem almost impossible to accomplish, our efforts do make a difference. That�s why I call upon government officials, law enforcement agencies, health professionals, educators, community leaders and the residents of this province to join me in working to end the violence that threatens so many of our citizens."

Photo #1 � The member departments and community organizations of the provincial Violence Prevention Initiative came together recently to proclaim February as Violence Prevention Month in this province. Front row: (L to R) Lorraine Best, Seniors Resource Centre; Hon. Joan Burke, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women; Daphne MacNeil, Provincial Association Against Family Violence; Mona Wall, Manager, Violence Prevention Initiative.

Back row: (L to R) John Scoville, Citizens� Crime Prevention Association of Newfoundland and Labrador; Hon. Tom Hedderson, Minister of Education; Hon. Tom Rideout, Minister of Transportation and Works and Minister Responsible for Aboriginal Affairs; Hon. Kathy Dunderdale, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development and Minister Responsible for the Rural Secretariat; Hon. Trevor Taylor, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture and Minister Responsible for Labrador Affairs.
Missing from photos: Hon. John Ottenheimer, Minister of Health and Community Services and Hon. Tom Marshall, Minister of Justice.

Media contact: Jacquelyn Howard, Communications (709) 729-4062 or (709) 689-2624

2005 02 01                     10:30 a.m.