Annual Purple Ribbon Campaign Highlights Issue of Violence Against Women

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is pleased to announce the start of the third annual Purple Ribbon Campaign to increase awareness and education on violence against women.

“Violence against women is a serious issue in this province and one that we all must come together to address,” said the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women and lead Minister for the Violence Prevention Initiative. “Through the Purple Ribbon Campaign, we hope to make violence against women a topic that can be openly discussed in our communities as we encourage all residents to become involved in violence prevention.”

The campaign, which is funded through the Violence Prevention Initiative, will run until December 10, coinciding with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence. It also includes two significant dates in the history of violence against women: November 25 is the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women and December 6 is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

To launch this year’s campaign, Minister Johnson participated in a proclamation signing with Violence Prevention Initiative government and community partners, including Regional Coordinating Committees Against Violence, Citizens Crime Prevention Association, the Multicultural Women’s Organization of Newfoundland and Labrador, and others.

"The Multicultural Women’s Organization of Newfoundland and Labrador is proud to be a part of the Purple Ribbon Campaign from the beginning,” said Kaberi Sarma-Debnath, Executive Director of Multicultural Women’s Organization of Newfoundland and Labrador. “We have been working very closely with Violence Prevention Initiative to create awareness and prevent violence among immigrant women and their family members using the message of the campaign. We distribute materials to our members and we also organize antiviolence workshops for immigrant men and women, representing over 30 countries, now residing in the province.”

Purple Ribbon pins and magnets have been sent to other community organizations and businesses throughout the province for distribution within their communities and to their employees.

“Both men and women can help spread the message that violence of any kind is unacceptable,” said Minister Johnson. “Over the next 16 days, I encourage all residents to show their support for ending violence against women by wearing a Purple Ribbon pin and placing a Purple Ribbon magnet on their vehicle.”

Women in Newfoundland and Labrador experience physical, sexual, emotional, psychological, spiritual and cultural violence, as well as verbal and financial abuse and neglect. According to RNC and RCMP data, from 2006 to 2010 over 14,000 violent incidents were committed against women over the age of 18 in our province. Unfortunately, the actual number is likely quite higher as only 10 per cent of women will report victimization to police.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s response to violence in the province is our Violence Prevention Initiative, a six-year, multi-departmental, government-community partnership to find long-term solutions to violence against those most at risk. Over the past year, a comprehensive consultation and evaluation process has been completed on the first phase of the Violence Prevention Initiative. The Phase II Action Plan, which will help us continue to address violence and abuse against core populations, is being finalized.

Violence Prevention Initiative Regional Coordinating Committees throughout the province have planned a number of events and activities in an effort to heighten awareness about the various forms of violence against women. For example, the Coalition Against Violence in St. John’s is partnering with the Newfoundland and Labrador Sexual Assault Crisis and Prevention Centre to host a film screening on sexism and the Northern Committee Against Violence is giving a presentation on violence against women and domestic violence in Roddickton. To find out more about activities taking place across the province, contact information for each of the violence prevention committees is provided in the backgrounder.

To view the campaign materials or to obtain more information on preventing violence against women, including information on the history of the purple ribbon, please visit www.respectwomen.ca.

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• Photo: The Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women and lead Minister of the Violence Prevention Initiative, was joined by Violence Prevention Initiative Ministers and violence prevention community partners to sign a proclamation for the third annual Purple Ribbon Campaign.

Media contacts:

Backgrounder
Regional Coordinating Committees Against Violence

For more information on how to participate in the Purple Ribbon Campaign, or to request campaign material, contact the one of the Violence Prevention Regional Coordinating Committees listed below.

Violence Prevention Labrador
P.O. Box 23
Forteau, NL
A0K 2P0
1-866-446-8080, 709-931-2601
coordinator@vplabrador.ca

Northern Committee Against Violence
P.O. Box 190
St. Anthony, NL
AOK 4SO
709-454-3351
darlenerice@gov.nl.ca 

Western Regional Coalition to End Violence
P.O. Box 373, 2 Carmen Avenue
Corner Brook, NL
A2H 6E3
709-634-6606
wrcev@nf.aibn.com

Southwestern Coalition to End Violence
P.O. Box 621
Stephenville, NL
A2N 3B5
709-643-1022
swceviolence@gmail.com 

Central West Committee Against Violence Inc.
5 Hardy Ave
Grand Falls-Windsor, NL
A2A 2P8
709-489-8828
cav@nfld.net 

The Roads to End Violence
142 Bennett Drive, Suite 2
Gander, NL
A1V 2E4
709-651-2250
theroadstoendviolence@nf.aibn.com 

Eastern Region Committee Against Violence
105 Manitoba Dr, Suite 304
Clarenville, NL
A5A 1K2
709-466-4676
ercav@gov.nl.ca 

Burin Peninsula Voice Against Violence
P.O. Box 87
Marystown, NL
A0E 2M0
709-279-4030
paulamallay@nf.aibn.com 

Communities Against Violence
P.O. Box 500
Bay Roberts, NL
A0A 1G0
709-786-7182 ext. 225
communitiesagainstviolence@yahoo.ca 

Coalition Against Violence
31 Peet Street – Tara Place, Suite 209
St. John's, NL
A1B 3W8
709-757-0137
cavae@coalitionagainstviolence.ca 

2012 11 26                              12:40 p.m.