Executive Council
May 18, 2007

New Awareness Campaign Tackles Youth Violence and Prevention

Over 400 young people and representatives from approximately 30 community groups gathered today in Stephenville to launch the Provincial Government�s youth violence prevention campaign. The Honourable Joan Burke, lead Minister for the Violence Prevention Initiative and Minister of Education, said the campaign is intended to encourage young people to take action against violence.

"Youth are experiencing physical, mental, emotional, and cyber violence, inflicted by their peers, parents, strangers or others. Every day, too many of our young people experience some form of violence," said Minister Burke. "The purpose of this campaign is to educate people about the different forms of violence that exist, encourage everyone to take action against violence and to reach out to support victims."

The youth campaign includes television advertisements, posters for schools across the province and a Web site � outrageNL.ca � where individuals can get information and emergency numbers.

Youth aged 13 to 18 from across Newfoundland and Labrador played a key role in the development of the campaign. They helped determine campaign materials, messages, and the language used in the advertisements and on the website.

This project is the first of six campaigns that will be created over the next five years. Future campaigns will focus on combating violence against children, older adults, women, persons with disabilities, and persons with differing sexual orientations.

The campaign is a project of the Violence Prevention Initiative, the Provincial Government�s six-year, $7.2 million commitment to reducing violence in Newfoundland and Labrador. The initiative brings together 10 Provincial Government departments and agencies and approximately 30 community groups working together to eliminate violence.

Budget 2007 has allocated an additional $398,000 to the Violence Prevention Initiative. As well, the Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment received $120,000, under the Poverty Reduction Strategy, to increase access to employment supports for victims of violence.

"We must all work together � government, citizens and communities � to end violence," said Minister Burke. "The students of Stephenville High School and members of the Southwestern Coalition to End Violence are to be commended for their involvement in the launch of the youth violence prevention campaign. They have set an excellent example for each of us on how our actions can raise awareness around this very important issue."

Helen Hynes is co-chair of the Southwestern Coalition to End Violence. "We believe that communities must work together to help make our province a safer place to live. We are pleased to be involved with the Violence Prevention Initiative and a co-ordinated provincial effort to bring awareness and education to the violence our youth are exposed to and impacted by each day. Education and awareness is an important step in addressing this very complex issue," said Ms. Hynes.

The students of Stephenville High School led the ceremonies and created violence prevention banners for the launch.

"Students and faculty were very excited to be part of the youth violence prevention campaign," said David Hepditch, vice-principal of Stephenville High School. "Our school is committed to providing a non-violent environment in order to achieve a safe and healthy school for all students and faculty."

To support the school community in dealing with youth violence, the Provincial Government released a Safe and Caring School policy in September 2006. Since that time, schools have introduced a wide range of activities to support and complement the Safe and Caring School policy, and to get students involved in making their schools safe learning environments.

"Classrooms can only operate in a safe and respectful way when expectations for behaviour are stated up front and are consistently taught to students. There must also be measures in place when behavioural expectations are not met. The Safe and Caring School Policy outlines these expectations and consequences," said Minister Burke.

To find out more about the Violence Prevention Initiative or to view the television advertisements for the prevention campaign, visit outrageNL.ca.

"Youth under the age of 18 make up 61 per cent of the victims of sexual assault in this country and children who witness family violence are at a higher risk of being violent in adult relationships," said Minister Burke. "By community groups and the Provincial Government working together to raise awareness we can begin to combat violence in Newfoundland and Labrador."

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Media contact:
Michelle Hynes
Communications Specialist
Women�s Policy Office
709-729-6225 or 693-2125
michellehynes@gov.nl.ca

2007 05 18                                                    10:15 a.m.

 


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