The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is joining community partners in proclaiming February as Violence Prevention Month with the goal of raising awareness of the many types of violence and its impacts.

Through the Violence Prevention Initiative, government and community partners are taking action needed to reduce the many types of violence in our province including physical assault, sexual, emotional, psychological, spiritual and cultural violence, verbal and financial abuse, and neglect.

Violence in any form is never acceptable. The Provincial Government is working closely with community partners to address violence. Organizations including the Regional Coordinating Committees Against Violence, the Transition House Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, the Provincial Advisory Council of the Status of Women, Seniors NL, the Newfoundland and Labrador Sexual Assault Crisis Prevention Centre, and the province’s women’s centres are fundamental in efforts to reduce violence.

As outlined in the backgrounder below, Regional Coordinating Committees Against Violence are holding events throughout the province to recognize Violence Prevention Month, including Pink Shirt Day on February 28.

On social media, follow #OneIdeaNL to learn more about Violence Prevention Month activities.

Quotes
“Our government is committed to working with community partners to find solutions to end violence. We thank them for their work and commitment. Together, we will take the positive steps needed to end violence so that everyone can live, work, learn and play in a society where they are safe.”
Honourable Siobhan Coady
Minister Responsible for the Status of Women

“Everyone has a right to live in a safe environment, free from harm but yet every day, people in this province endure horrific acts of violence. It has to end. As Minister of Justice and Public Safety I am committed to do what I can to help end violence and make Newfoundland and Labrador a safer place to live and raise a family.”
Honourable Andrew Parsons
Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General

– 30 –

Learn more

Information on the Violence Prevention Initiative can be found at www.gov.nl.ca/vpi

Pink Shirt Day www.pinkshirtday.ca 

Follow us on twitter @GovNL  @WPO_GovNL 

On behalf of the Provincial Government, the Honourable Lisa Dempster, Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development joined community partners to sign a proclamation recognizing February as Violence Prevention Month.

 

Media contacts
Nancy Hollett
Natural Resources
709-729-5777, 709-685-3372
nancyhollett@gov.nl.ca

Lesley Clarke
Justice and Public Safety
709-729-6985, 699-2910
LesleyClarke@gov.nl.ca

BACKGROUNDER

Activities Being Undertaken by Regional Coordinating Committees Against Violence

Regional Coordinating Committees Against Violence are active throughout the year in raising awareness, delivering presentations and undertaking community events. Here is a sample of some of the events being held during Violence Prevention Month:

Awareness Campaigns:

• Regional Coordinating Committees throughout the province will be raising awareness about violence and violence prevention by supporting social media, sharing campaigns such as Stand Up Day and undertaking local campaigns.
• Violence Prevention Avalon East will support the annual #OneIdeaNL with 40 community organizations in Avalon East region and Burin Peninsula.
• Voice Against Violence is partnering with Grace Sparkes House for #Notinmytown campaign.
• Southwestern Coalition to End Violence and Coalition Against Violence Avalon East are issuing a community challenge to “Paint the Town Pink”: local businesses, government offices, non-profits, service organizations and community at large encouraged to wear pink and display pink in windows, and bulletin boards on Stand Up Day.

Training:

• Regional Coordinating Committees provide violence prevention training throughout the year, including Violence Awareness and Action Training.
• In February, Regional Coordinating Committees in the province will be offering Violence Awareness and Action Training as well as other specialized training, including:
  • Sexual Exploitation of Youth, facilitated by Coalition Against the Sexual Exploitation of Youth and THRIVE Community Youth Network, hosted by Violence Prevention West
  • Violence Prevention Forum – Darkness to Light, Child Sexual Abuse Training, hosted by Violence Prevention Avalon East.

Presentations:

• Presentations to community organizations, schools and the general public are offered by Regional Coordinating Committees throughout the year.
• Sessions held during Violence Prevention Month include:
  • Presentations in secondary and post-secondary schools;
  • Burin Peninsula Voice Against Violence’s presentation for Grades 6-7 on Healthy Youth Relationships on Stand Up Day at Sacred Heart Academy in partnership with Grace Sparkes House;
  • Delivery of educational programming to Violence Prevention South and Central to the primary and elementary schools in the region.; and
  • Violence Prevention East will also deliver a presentation to the Rotary on February 5 on local needs of women leaving an abusive relationship.

Community Events:

• Regional Coordinating Committees host and partner to deliver community events which held to inform families and the general public about the impacts of violence and services available.