September 14 – 18 is Sexual Violence Awareness Week in Newfoundland and Labrador.

“We must all work together in our society to ensure that women and girls are safe in their homes, schools, and workplaces,” said NAPE President Jerry Earle. “The labour movement has been at the forefront of the fight to end violence against women, for equality, for better pay and benefits, and better protections in the workplace and at home. It is a fight that we will continue for as long as it takes.”

Please see the link below for the Newfoundland and Labrador Sexual Assault Crisis and Prevention Centre’s Facebook page.  The Centre is a non-profit organization based in St. John’s that offers programs, information, resources and a 24-hour crisis line to victims and survivors of sexual violence across the province.

The page also has information about events happening this week, including the ‘Take Back the Night March’ which is taking place on Friday, September 18.

https://www.facebook.com/EndSV?fref=ts

Here are some shocking and sobering statistics about sexual violence in Newfoundland and Labrador (from the Centre’s site). We must remember that behind these numbers are real people – women in our communities whose lives have been impacted by sexual violence.

They remind us that we must redouble our efforts to end violence against women in all its forms.

Sexual violence in Newfoundland and Labrador:

  • While the country has seen slight declines in sexual assault rates, Newfoundland and Labrador has experienced an increase. (Stats Can 2011)
  • Newfoundland and Labrador has one of the highest per capita sexual assault rates in Canada. (Stats Can 2011)
  • In 2014, the Newfoundland and Labrador Sexual Assault Crisis and Prevention Centre received about 1,500 calls to its province-wide crisis line, 370 of which were crisis calls.
  • Less than 10 per cent of sexual assaults are reported to the police. (YWCA 2012)