The Honourable Pam Parsons, Minister Responsible for Women and Gender Equality, today hosted a flag raising and proclamation signing event at Confederation Building to mark the start of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence, also known as the Purple Ribbon Campaign. Minister Parsons was joined by violence prevention advocates Debbie Hibbs, Lisa Lake and Gemma Hickey.

The Purple Ribbon Campaign officially starts on November 25 (the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women), and ends on December 10 (World Human Rights Day). In addition to the flag raising, 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.

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 2023, the Office of Women and Gender Equality allocated over $3.3 million in core operational funding to anti-violence organizations and projects to support violence prevention.

Newfoundland and Labrador also recently concluded negotiations with the Federal Government on a four-year bilateral funding agreement to support the implementation of the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence in this province. Details regarding this multi-million dollar funding agreement benefitting many local groups and organizations will be announced in the coming weeks.

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“Gender-based violence affects our society at its very core. It knows no boundaries, and transcends borders, cultures and socio-economic statuses. The statistics are alarming and the stories heart-wrenching. The Purple Ribbon campaign and the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence were created to raise awareness, inspire a call to action, and send a powerful message that society will not tolerate such abuse.”
Honourable Pam Parsons
Minister Responsible for Women and Gender Equality

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Violence Prevention Initiative

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