Today the Honourable Pam Parsons, Minister Responsible for Women and Gender Equality, hosted a flag raising event at Confederation Building to mark the start of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, also known as the Purple Ribbon Campaign.

Newfoundland and Labrador recognizes the Purple Ribbon Campaign each year, which starts on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ends on December 10, World Human Rights Day. The Purple Ribbon flag is raised and the Confederation Building will be lit purple at the commencement of the campaign. These efforts help raise awareness and change attitudes about gender-based violence in the province.

Minister Parsons was joined by Debbie and Philip Hibbs, parents of Juliane Hibbs and violence prevention advocates, as well as Lee Kelly, Program Facilitator at Quadrangle NL, and the drumming group, Wape’k Muin.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to ongoing collaboration with community stakeholders and Indigenous Governments and Organizations to ensure culturally appropriate actions are taken to decrease gender-based violence.

Through Budget 2022, the Office of Women and Gender Equality allocated over $3.2 million in core operational funding to anti-violence organizations and projects to support violence prevention in the province.

Most recently, on November 9, 2022, Newfoundland and Labrador joined all other provinces and territories and the Federal Government to launch the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence. Based on the framework of this National Action Plan, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador will further build on its violence prevention efforts and will action initiatives that are tailored to the needs of our province.

Quotes
“The Purple Ribbon Campaign aims to raise awareness about the issue of gender-based violence in Newfoundland and Labrador. Our government will continue to work with stakeholders to prevent violence and ensure that appropriate supports are in place for people who have been impacted by gender-based violence, while honouring those whose lives have been taken.”
Honourable Pam Parsons
Minister Responsible for Women and Gender Equality

“Quadrangle NL is an organization built on inclusivity and safety within the community. We support and develop actions that reduce and prevent violence against all people, particularly the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and other groups who continue to experience higher levels of violence.”
Charles Murphy
Executive Director, Quadrangle NL

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Violence Prevention Initiative

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