Executive Council
February 23, 2015

Committed to Transparency and Accountability

Public Consultation Reports Available Online

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador remains committed to addressing and reducing all forms of violence through the Violence Prevention Initiative, a multi-departmental, government-community partnership to find long-term solutions to violence.

“Violence takes many forms, all of which are reprehensible and unacceptable. I am committed to continuing the successful work of the Violence Prevention Initiative through a new, Phase II action plan that builds upon the strengths of Phase I, and engages all citizens and communities in building a violence-free province. In the interim, the programs and services that have been successful in Phase I continue to play an integral role in our efforts to end violence in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
- The Honourable Judy M. Manning, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women

In 2012, the Provincial Government conducted an evaluation of the Violence Prevention Initiative to assess the effectiveness of Phase I and to begin gathering input on the development of a Phase II action plan. The evaluation included 15 roundtable consultations with key community stakeholders including Regional Coordinating Committees against Violence, Women’s Centres, Transition Houses, and other community-based violence prevention partners, and four focus groups with female victims of violence in both urban and rural areas of the province.

Reports requested by the Liberal Party in a release issued today (Wednesday, February 25) detailing these consultations are available to the public and have been accessible through the Violence Prevention Initiative website since April, 2014:

Community Consultation – Goss Gilroy Inc.
//gov.nl.ca/VPI/publications/pdf/community_consultation.pdf
Victims of Violence Report– Jane Helleur and Associates Inc.
//gov.nl.ca/VPI/publications/pdf/victims_of_violence.pdf

This government is firmly committed to the release of a Phase II action plan for the Violence Prevention Initiative as outlined in the mandate letter from Premier Davis to the Minister Responsible for the Status of Women:

You will direct and oversee the release of the second phase of the Violence Prevention Initiative, which builds on the strengths of the first violence prevention phase, Taking Action Against Violence, and finds long term solutions for violence against those most at risk in our society.

The Phase II Violence Prevention Initiative action plan will be publicly released in the coming months. It will build on the successes of Phase I and further contribute towards the development of safe, supportive homes, communities, schools and workplaces where violence is considered unacceptable.

QUICK FACTS

  • The Provincial Government is committed to addressing and reducing all forms of violence through the Violence Prevention Initiative.
  • Public consultations on the success of Phase I were carried out in 2012.
  • Two reports on the public consultations have been available online since early 2014.
  • Premier Paul Davis has mandated Minister Manning to oversee the release of Phase II of the VPI.

- 30 -

Media contact:

Gina MacArthur
Communications
Women’s Policy Office
709-729-6225, 709-730-2977
ginamacarthur@gov.nl.ca

2015 02 25                              3:40 p.m.