The Honourable Carol Anne Haley, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, joined Mary Shortall, President, Newfoundland and Labrador Federation and Labour, and Debbie Hibbs, mother of Julianne Hibbs and advocate for the prevention of violence, as well as other partners and stakeholders today for a flag rising ceremony and proclamation signing at Confederation Building to mark the start of the 2018 Purple Ribbon Campaign.

The Purple Ribbon flag is raised to help create public awareness and positively change social attitudes and behaviours about violence against women in Newfoundland and Labrador. The creation of the Purple Ribbon flag was made possible by the advocacy of Debbie and Phillip Hibbs.

The Purple Ribbon Campaign, which is supported through the Violence Prevention Initiative, will run November 25 to December 10, coinciding with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence. It also includes two significant dates in the history of violence against women: November 25 is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and December 6 is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to supporting important social programs, strong communities and the health and well-being of children, families and seniors. This includes continuing the work of the Violence Prevention Initiative action plan, Working Together for Violence Free Communities, stakeholder consultations and engagement, regional outreach on violence prevention, continued financial support for the Indigenous Violence Prevention Grants Program, as well the Intimate Partner Violence Unit, which is a province-wide law enforcement effort.

The Provincial government also continues to work with representatives from the women’s community, regional coordinating committees against violence, the Indigenous community, as well as new immigrants to identify collaborative, culturally-appropriate ways to address the issue of gender-based violence in our province and throughout Canada.

Quotes
“Violence against women is a serious issue in this province; one we all have a responsibility to address. By raising awareness, changing attitudes and working together, violence against women can be prevented. The Purple Ribbon flag is a tribute to all those who have experienced violence and symbolizes our collective efforts to speak out about violence and educate others. ”
Honourable Carol Anne Haley
Minister Responsible for the Status of Women

“The Purple Ribbon Campaign is a great opportunity to engage our members about the role labour can play inside and outside our movement to address the issue of gender-based violence. We welcome recent legislative changes – positive steps which will protect all workers when family violence follows some of them to work. We will continue to work with government and like-minded partners to end gender based violence, and towards our ultimate goal of a more equal and just society.”
Mary Shortall
President, Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour

“I hope everyone today will take a moment to reflect on the significance of the Purple Ribbon Flag. This flag represents awareness of domestic relationship and gender violence. This flag is flown to honour all the young girls, women and men whose lives have been taken from them because of domestic relationship violence. Everyone has a part to play here. You may think, well this doesn’t affect me, but you are so wrong, because when violence takes place in our communities or the place where we live it affects us all. It affects us as people, families and friends. We are all striving for the same thing in society and that is to live in a safe environment. Abuse has been around since the beginning of time and because it was so hushed and victims felt so ashamed believing it was their fault, they were silenced. The perpetrators had all the control because the victim was silenced. So began the cycle that became so powerful that just by silencing you there was no way out. But no more, silence no more. Silence kills! We need to educate our children and the public about all aspects of violence, abuse and bullying. This flag is a reminder of what has happened and also a reminder of what needs to be done to eradicate domestic relationship and gender violence.”
Debbie Hibbs
Mother of Juliane Hibbs and advocate for the prevention of violence

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Learn more

For more information on the Violence Prevention Initiative, please visit, www.gov.nl.ca/VPI or contact any of the 10 Violence Prevention Newfoundland and Labrador organizations listed in the backgrounder below.

Media contacts
Nancy Hollett
Women’s Policy Office
709-729-5777, 685-3372
nancyhollett@gov.nl.ca

Mary Shortall
Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour
709-754-166, 699-3112

BACKGROUNDER

Regional Coordinating Committees Against Violence

Burin Peninsula Voice against Violence 
60 Atlantic Crescent
P.O. Box 87
Marystown, NL, AOE 2MO
Krista Foote, Executive Director
709-279-4030
Fax: 709-279-5387
Email: bpvav@nf.aibn.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BPVAV
Web: www.bpvav.com/

Communities Against Violence 
30 A Cathedral Street, Harbour Grace
PO Box 250
Harbour Grace, NL, A0A 2M0
Stacy Harris, Executive Director
709-596-0726
Cell: 709-597-3161
Email: info@communitiesagainstviolence.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Communities-Against-Violence-491313564276666/ 
Twitter: @CAVavalonwest

Roads to End Violence 
157 Airport Boulevard
Gander, NL, A1V 1K6
709-651-2250
Fax: 709-651-2295
Lori Oram, Executive Director
Email: info@roadstoendviolence.ca
Twitter: @RoadEndViolence
Web: www.roadstoendviolence.ca/ 

Violence Prevention – Avalon East 
Val Barter, Executive Director
31 Peet Street – Tara Place, Suite 215
St. John’s, NL A1B 3W8
Tel: (709) 757-0137
Fax: (709) 754-4949
E-mail: cavae.save.now@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ViolencePreventionAvalonEast/ 
Web: www.coalitionagainstviolence.ca/ 

Violence Prevention East 
Tracey Fleming, Executive Director
105 Manitoba Dr., Suite 304
Clarenville, NL A5A 1K2
Tel: (709) 466-4676
Fax: (709) 466-4670
E-mail: ercav@gov.nl.ca
Web: www.ercav.ca/home/ 

Violence Prevention Labrador (VPL) 
Petrina Beals, Executive Director
P.O. Box 869, St. B
114 Hamilton River Road
Happy Valley Goose Bay, NL A0P 1E0
E-mail: coordinator@vplabrador.ca
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ViolencePreventionLabrador 
Twitter: @vplabrador
Web: www.vplabrador.ca/home/

Violence Prevention Northern Peninsula 
T.J. Smith, Executive Director
279 West Street
P.O. Box 847
St. Anthony, NL AOK 4SO
Tel: (709) 454-3351
Fax: (709) 454-2334
E-mail: tjsmithvpnp@gmail.com
Web: www.ncav.ca/home/

Violence Prevention South and Central 
5 Hardy Ave
Grand Falls-Windsor, NL, A2A 2P8
Katherine Arnold, Executive Director
709-489-8828
Fax: 709-489-8620
Email: info@vpsc.ca
Twitter: @VPSCNL
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Violence-Prevention-South-andCentral/263892110333768 
Web: www.vpsc.ca/ 

Violence Prevention Southwest
31 – 37 Gallant Street
P.O. Box 621
Stephenville, NL, A2N 3B5
Bernice Hancock, Coordinating Agency Representative
709-643-1022/643-5399
Fax: 709-643-2293
Email: swceviolence@gmail.com
Web: swcev.ca/ 

Violence Prevention West 
Victoria Jones, Executive Director
98 Broadway
Corner Brook, NL A2H 4C8
Tel: (709) 634-6606
Fax: (709) 639-1093
E-mail: wrcoalitiontoendviolence@gmail.com
Web: www.wrcev.ca/