Violence Prevention Gains Spotlight in February

February is Violence Prevention Month in Newfoundland and Labrador. To raise awareness of the various types of violence, the Provincial Government, in collaboration with its violence prevention partners, is planning a series of activities throughout the province.

“Year round, the Provincial Government and its communities work hard to educate Newfoundlanders and Labradorians about the realities of violence,” said the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women. “To heighten awareness of this very important issue, we have designated February as Violence Prevention Month. All individuals have the right to a life that is safe and free of violence. I encourage everyone to participate in local activities and take action against violence and show your support by displaying your Purple Ribbon pins and magnets.”

Minister Sullivan, accompanied by the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment and one of seven ministers involved with the Provincial Government’s Violence Prevention Initiative, proclaimed February Violence Prevention Month at a ceremony held at the Newfoundland and Labrador Sexual Assault Crisis and Prevention Centre.

“Supporting the prevention of violence is a priority of this administration,” said Minister Sullivan. “Over the next few weeks, there are many events planned that target a variety of audiences, including youth, women, and older persons. By attending these events, individuals can educate themselves about the types of violence, how it impacts people, and how we can eliminate it.”

In February, the Provincial Government will hold a Violence Prevention Initiative conference on February 15-16 with the theme Violence and Sexual Orientation: Preventing Homophobia and Heterosexism. It will also be running a series of advertisements throughout the province relating to Violence Prevention Month, as well as continuing its Respect Women and Purple Ribbon campaigns.

Regional coordinating committees are planning a variety of local events. On the Burin Peninsula for example, sexual violence presentations are scheduled, while in the Central Region, there is an Internet safety workshop for parents. Community information fairs and activities are being hosted in many regions across the province. A full listing of Violence Prevention Month activities can be obtained from regional coordinating committees. Contact information for each of the committees is listed in the backgrounder below.

Violence and abuse can be physical, sexual, financial, verbal, emotional, spiritual, cultural or psychological and includes neglect. It can occur in intimate and non-intimate relationships. Statistics show that women, children, seniors and persons with disabilities are the most vulnerable to violence, with women experiencing the highest rates of violence. Aboriginal women are over three times more likely than non-Aboriginal women to be victims of violence. Violence against women also tends to be more severe and frequent, with greater physical and psychological injuries.

Violence Prevention Month is an element of the Provincial Government’s Violence Prevention Initiative (VPI). The six year, Provincial Government-community partnership is focused on identifying long-term solutions to violence.

For more information about the Violence Prevention Initiative, please visit www.gov.nl.ca/vpi.

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Photo #1: The Honourable Susan Sullivan, Lead Minister of the Violence Prevention Initiative (VPI) and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, and the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment and one of the seven VPI Ministers, were joined by VPI community partners to proclaim February as Violence Prevention Month:

Media contact:

Melissa MacLeod
Communications Specialist
Women’s Policy Office
709-729-6225, 693-7938
melissamacleod@gov.nl.ca 

Backgrounder
Regional Coordinating Committees Contact List

Violence Prevention Labrador
P.O. Box 23
Forteau, NL A0K 2P0
1-866-446-8080, 709-931-2600
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 

2011 02 04                                                                           9:40 a.m.