Executive Council
October 6, 2015
Supporting Safe Communities
Provincial Government Launches New Violence Prevention Action Plan
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador today released Working Together for Violence Free Communities: An Action Plan for the Prevention of Violence in Newfoundland and Labrador 2015-2019. The action plan is part of the Provincial Government's continued commitment to building safe, violence-free communities in Newfoundland and Labrador.
"This comprehensive action plan reflects our government's commitment to the prevention of violence against all at-risk populations. It is critical for us to continue working together to address the root causes of violence so that all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians can live, work and learn in violence-free communities."
- The Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
The action plan commits $9.5 million over the next four years to implement 67 strategic actions that will raise awareness about violence and its devastating impacts, expand engagement to involve more people in the prevention of violence and strengthen policies, programs and services related to violence prevention.
"This is an important day for victims of violence in this province, because Working Together for Violence-Free Communities is an action plan that draws on their advice to us about how to end violence in their lives and in their province. I look forward to working with all our community partners to implement these actions, so that we can all live free of the fear of violence."
- The Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women
The plan builds on the successes of Taking Action Against Violence, the Provincial Government's 2006 violence prevention action plan, which fostered an ongoing culture of prevention and awareness. It included four successful social marketing campaigns, $8.4 million in funding for community partners to provide information, referral and outreach services, and established the Aboriginal Women's Violence Prevention Grants.
"As the needs of survivors and communities continue to grow, we are pleased that the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is launching a multiyear strategy and we anticipate new and innovative investments that will build on the decade previous. Sexual violence is prevalent in all our communities and the impact is devastating. It is only through resourced, coordinated and collaborative strategies that we can put an end to violence in our province. We look forward to engaging and collaborating with our government partners on this new initiative."
- Nicole Kieley, Executive Director, Newfoundland and Labrador Sexual Assault Crisis and Prevention Centre
The Provincial Government is also launching the Aboriginal Men's Violence Prevention Grants, which will provide $30,000 for projects that focus on engaging men and boys in the prevention of violence. Applications for both the new grants and for the Aboriginal Women's Violence Prevention Grants will open immediately.
The Violence Prevention Initiative is a multi-departmental, Provincial Government-community partnership to find long-term solutions to the problem of violence against those most at risk in our society: women, children and youth, older persons, persons with disabilities, Aboriginal women and children, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, persons of varying race or ethnicity and persons of differing economic status.
More information about Working Together for Violence-Free Communities is available in the backgrounder below.
QUICK FACTS:
- The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador has launched Working Together for Violence-Free Communities: An Action Plan for the Prevention of Violence in Newfoundland and Labrador 2015-2019.
- Government has committed $9.5 million over the next four years for the implementation of the plan.
- The plan includes $30,000 annually for the new Aboriginal Men's Violence Prevention Grants.
- Further information about the Violence Prevention Initiative can be found at www.gov.nl.ca/vpi.
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Media contacts:
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Heather MacLean
Director of Communications Office of the Premier 709-729-3581 heathermaclean@gov.nl.ca |
Donna Ivey
Special Assistant, Communications Office of the Premier 709-729-3551 Donnaivey@gov.nl.ca |
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Gina MacArthur
Communications Analyst Women's Policy Office 709-729-6225, 709-730-2977 ginamacarthur@gov.nl.ca |
BACKGROUNDER
Working Together for Violence-Free Communities
The vision of the Violence Prevention Initiative is for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to live, learn and work in a society which is violence free.
Approximately $9.5 million has been allocated to support the 67 action items over the next four years. Highlights include:
Public Awareness
- A new social marketing campaign that will include components to address violence against Aboriginal women and children, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons; and the impacts of sexual violence, cyber violence, and social media on children, youth and families;
- New public awareness and education materials designed to counteract discrimination and promote diversity;
- A public guide to violence prevention and intervention policies;
- Resources for youth, parents, guardians and educators to promote the safe use of social media and technology; and
- Refreshed and updated Violence Prevention Initiative website to provide additional public resources and information on violence prevention.
Aboriginal Women and Children
- New Aboriginal Men's Violence Prevention Grants; and
- Continued collaboration with Aboriginal governments and organizations to develop culturally-sensitive initiatives to improve the lives of Aboriginal women and children.
Increasing Participation and Leadership
- New initiatives to engage men and boys in the prevention of sexual violence by raising awareness about the meaning of consent, dating violence, intimate partner violence and healthy relationships;
- Engage municipalities, private and public sector employers, unions and the business community to develop and support training, awareness and education initiatives; and
- Continue to fund community partners and work with them to expand and enhance the work they do to ensure that it addresses the needs of populations who are most at risk of violence.
Strengthening Research, Policies, Programs and Services
- Increase the number of safe houses by identifying larger units within the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporations social housing portfolio that could be used for this purpose;
- Work with the four regional health authorities to enhance the coordination and standardization of the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner program and explore the feasibility of establishing sexual assault response teams; and
- Undertake a second provincial survey of attitudes towards violence and abuse, and the first provincial survey on the prevalence of violence against Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.
More information about the Violence Prevention Initiative, and a link to Working Together for Violence-Free Communities can be found at www.gov.nl.ca/vpi.
Violence Prevention Initiative Partners and Stakeholders
- Regional Coordinating Committees against Violence
- Coalition Against Violence-Avalon East St. John's
- Communities Against Violence Carbonear
- Burin Peninsula Voice Against Violence Marystown
- Eastern Region Committee Against Violence Clarenville
- Roads to End Violence Gander
- Violence Prevention South and Central Grand Falls-Windsor
- Western Regional Coalition to End Violence Corner Brook
- Southwestern Coalition to End Violence Stephenville
- Northern Committee Against Violence St. Anthony
- Violence Prevention Labrador Forteau
- Women's Centres
- St. John's Women's Centre St. John's
- Gander Women's Centre Gander
- Central Women's Centre Grand Falls-Windsor
- Corner Brook Women's Centre Corner Brook
- Bay St. George Women's Centre Stephenville
- Gateway Women's Centre Port aux Basques
- Mokami Women's Centre Happy Valley-Goose Bay
- Labrador West Women's Centre Labrador West
- Transition Houses
- Iris Kirby House St. John's
- O'Shaughnessy House Carbonear
- Grace Sparkes House Marystown
- Cara Transition House Gander
- Corner Brook Transition House Corner Brook
- Libra House Happy Valley-Goose Bay
- Nukum Munik Shelter Sheshatshiu
- Hope Haven Labrador City
- Kirkina House Rigolet
- Selma Onalik Safe House Hopedale
- Nain Transition House Nain
- Natuashish Safe House Natuashish
- Additional Community Stakeholders
- AIDS Committee of Newfoundland and Labrador
- Association for New Canadians
- Boys and Girls Club of Newfoundland and Labrador
- Canadian Mental Health Association of Newfoundland and Labrador
- Canadian Red Cross
- Choices for Youth
- Citizen's Crime Prevention Association of Newfoundland and Labrador
- Coalition of Persons with Disabilities
- Human Rights Commission
- Independent Living Resource Centre
- John Howard Society of Newfoundland and Labrador
- Multicultural Women's Organization of Newfoundland and Labrador
- Newfoundland and Labrador Association for Community Living
- Newfoundland and Labrador Sexual Assault Crisis and Prevention Centre
- Planned Parenthood/Newfoundland and Labrador Sexual Health Centre
- Provincial Advisory Council on the Status of Women
- Public Legal Information Association of Newfoundland
- Seniors Resource Centre of Newfoundland and Labrador
- THRIVE/Community Youth Network
- Transition House Association of Newfoundland and Labrador
Aboriginal Governments and Organizations
- AnánauKatiget Tumingit Regional Inuit Women's Association
- Labrador Friendship Centre
- Miawpukek First Nation
- Mushuau Innu First Nation
- Newfoundland Aboriginal Women's Network
- Nunatsiavut Government
- NunatuKavut Community Council
- Qalipu Mi'Kmaq First Nation Band
- Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation
- St. John's Native Friendship Centre
Provincial Government Departments and Agencies
- Department of Advanced Education and Skills
- Department of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development
- Department of Child, Youth and Family Services
- Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
- Department of Environment and Conservation
- Department of Finance
- Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
- Department of Health and Community Services
- Department of Justice and Public Safety
- Department of Municipal and Intergovernmental Affairs
- Department of Natural Resources
- Department of Seniors, Wellness and Social Development
- Department of Transportation and Works
- Labour Relations Agency
- Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs Office
- Newfoundland Labrador Housing Corporation
- Office of Public Engagement
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police
- Royal Newfoundland Constabulary
- Service NL
- Women's Policy Office
2015 10 06 10:15 a.m.