Executive Council
November 26, 2012

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Child, Youth and Family Services and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women:

Annual Purple Ribbon Campaign Kicks Off Today

Mr. Speaker, I rise in this Honourable House today to announce the start of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s third annual Purple Ribbon Campaign to increase awareness and education on violence against women.

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.

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, we know that the actual number is likely quite higher as only 10 per cent of women will report victimization to police.

Our government’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, we have been completing a comprehensive consultation and evaluation process on the first phase of the Violence Prevention Initiative. We are also currently finalizing the Phase II Action Plan, which will help us continue to address violence against core populations most likely to experience violence and abuse.

Violence against women is an issue that we all must come together to address. The Purple Ribbon Campaign is a great example of how the Provincial Government and the community works together to prevent violence in our province.

Mr. Speaker, both men and women can help spread the message that violence of any kind is unacceptable. Over the next 16 days, I ask 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.

Purple Ribbon Campaign materials are available in communities across the province, through municipalities and Regional Coordinating Committees Against Violence. To find out where you can obtain Purple Ribbon materials or to get more information on preventing violence against women, please visit https://www.gov.nl.ca/vpi/.

Thank you Mr. Speaker.