|
Education May 24, 2007 The following statement was issued by the Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Education and Lead Minister of the Violence Prevention Initiative. It was also read in the House of Assembly: Province Launches New Campaign Aimed at Youth
I rise today to inform my colleagues that an awareness campaign, aimed at reducing youth violence in Newfoundland and Labrador, was launched in Stephenville last week. It includes television advertisements, posters, and a Web site - outragenl.ca. All materials were very well received by the 400 high school students and members of the 40 community organizations who attended the launch. Every day, young people are experiencing physical, emotional, sexual and cyber violence. However, research tells us that an act of violence can be stopped in 10 seconds when a bystander steps in to support the victim. The slogan for the awareness campaign is Stand Up, Reach Out, Take Action Against Violence. It was created with the help of youth from across Newfoundland and Labrador. We hope to impress upon our young people that their actions can help reduce, or even eliminate, many acts of violence.
The Provincial Government has been working hard to
ensure that we support communities in their violence prevention efforts.
Funding for the renewed Violence Prevention Initiative � Taking
Action Against Violence has been increased substantially, with a
total investment of $7.5 million over six years. In addition, in 2006, we introduced the Safe and
Caring School Policy. Since that time, schools throughout Newfoundland
and Labrador have embraced these policies and adapted them to suit their
unique school environments. Our Lady of Mercy Elementary School in St. George�s is
an example of how schools are taking a leadership role in combating
violence. Staff and students have created a school violence prevention
program. It gives youth the ability to solve problems and take steps
themselves to reduce violence. They work with each other to make sure
their school is safe and that everyone is treated with respect. The grade eight history class from Our Lady of Mercy
Elementary is in the gallery today. They are in St. John�s to visit The
Rooms, Signal Hill, and other historic sites in the region. Many of
these students are monitors in the school violence prevention program. It is encouraging to see schools implement creative
programs to combat violence � programs that help our young people
understand and spread the message that violence is unacceptable. The Provincial Government is committed to providing
continued support to schools and to communities-at-large to prevent all
forms of violence. I encourage my honourable colleagues to visit the Web
site, outragenl.ca, review the material that is provided for the youth
of our province, and speak to this issue at every possible opportunity. 2007 05 24
1:45 p.m.
|
|
|
|
All material copyright the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. No unauthorized copying or redeployment permitted. The Government assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any material deployed on an unauthorized server. Disclaimer/Copyright/Privacy Statement |
