OutrageNL Campaign Advances Violence Prevention
in Newfoundland and Labrador

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is currently running OutrageNL, a campaign designed to provide information and resources to youth facing violence.

"Many youth in our province suffer from violence inflicted by their peers, family members or acquaintances,” said the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women and lead Minister for the Violence Prevention Initiative. “We must make it clear that violence, whether it be physical, verbal, emotional, sexual or cyber, is unacceptable. Through the OutrageNL campaign, we can educate people about these different forms of violence and encourage everyone to reach out and take action against violence."

The OutrageNL campaign is reaching out to residents through a variety of avenues including television advertisements, schools posters, and the website www.outrageNL.ca, where visitors can learn how to recognize and take action against violence. The website also includes emergency numbers, links to community organizations, and helpful information for youth who are victims of violence or who struggle with violent tendencies.

During the development of the campaign, youth aged 13 to 18 from across Newfoundland and Labrador played a key role by offering their insight on various campaign elements, including the website, advertisements and messaging.

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

“We must all work together to end violence and our government is committed to providing safe and supportive learning environments for all students through our continued support of the Safe and Caring Schools policy and the OutrageNL campaign,” said the Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Education. “The OutrageNL campaign is an excellent resource for students in our province who may be experiencing violence or abuse, whether in the school, at home or in their social settings.”

The OutrageNL campaign is one of four social marketing campaigns created under the Violence Prevention Initiative. This initiative is the Provincial Government’s six-year, $12 million commitment to reducing violence throughout the province seeing 11 government departments and agencies and approximately 30 community groups work together to eliminate violence.

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2011 12 21             11:25 a.m.