Provincial Government and Community Groups Recognize Violence Prevention

February is Violence Prevention Month in Newfoundland and Labrador. Throughout the month, the Provincial Government and community groups will continue to raise awareness about the issue of violence and encourage residents to take action against it.

“Violence prevention is everyone’s responsibility,” said the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women and lead minister for the Violence Prevention Initiative. “I encourage everyone to get involved in violence prevention activities in their regions in order to help reduce, and ultimately end, violence.”

On February 8, Minister Johnson will attend a celebration awards dinner at the Masonic Lodge in Heart’s Content for “This Little Light” poster contest, which aims to prevent violence in schools. During the ceremony, the minister will be joined by students, parents, teachers and community representatives to sign a proclamation declaring February as Violence Prevention Month throughout the province.

“Violence prevention is a priority of this government,” said Minister Johnson. “Throughout February, we will be running our OutrageNL Campaign which encourages residents to reach out and take action against youth violence, as well as the Respect Women Campaign on local media outlets. We are asking all residents to show their support for Violence Prevention Month by wearing purple ribbon pins and placing a purple ribbon magnet on their vehicles.”

Regional Coordinating Committees Against Violence are also planning events and activities in an effort to heighten awareness about violence. Violence Prevention Labrador is supporting several activities including a pizza and movie night hosted by Mealy Mountain Collegiate’s Gay-Straight Alliance with a focus on the impacts of gender roles, and the Port Hope Simpson Community Youth Network is hosting a pancake breakfast and youth night focusing on respect, trust and honest communication. Further details and a complete listing of activities for Violence Prevention Month can be obtained by contacting local regional coordinating committees, listed in the backgrounder below.

Violence takes many forms, including physical, sexual, emotional, spiritual, cultural and psychological, as well as verbal and financial abuse and neglect. In any form, violence profoundly affects an individual’s overall health and well-being. Statistics show that women, children, older persons and persons with disabilities are the most vulnerable to violence, with women experiencing the highest rates of violence. Violence against women also tends to be more severe and frequent, with greater physical and psychological injuries.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Violence Prevention Initiative is 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 is currently being finalized.

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

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Media contact:
Tracey Boland
Communications Specialist
Women’s Policy Office
709-729-6225, 693-7938
TraceyBoland@gov.nl.ca

Backgrounder
Regional Coordinating Committees Against Violence

For more information on Violence Prevention Month activities, 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

2013 02 01                         11:20 a.m.