For Immediate Release
February 5, 2025
As Violence Prevention Month begins, NL NDP Leader Jim Dinn (St. John’s Centre) is calling on the provincial government to declare intimate partner violence (IPV) an epidemic and take meaningful action against it as it continues to devastate families and communities across Newfoundland and Labrador.
“Intimate partner violence is an epidemic, and it is time this government labels it as such,” said Dinn. “We are seeing crisis-level rates of IPV in this province, but the response has been nowhere near what is needed. We need more than awareness campaigns—we need real action, real funding, and real protections for those at risk.”
Newfoundland and Labrador has one of the highest rates of IPV in the country, disproportionately affecting women, gender-diverse individuals, and marginalized communities. Advocates have long been calling for increased funding for shelters, transitional housing, and frontline services, yet many organizations remain under-resourced.
“We need immediate action, which includes adequate, long-term funding for non-profits focused on women’s rights and justice for survivors, ensuring safe shelters for survivors, and stronger protections to prevent violence before it happens,” said Dinn. “If government truly wants to prevent violence, they need to invest in the solutions that survivors and advocates have been demanding for years.”
The NL NDP stands with survivors, frontline organizations, and advocates who are doing the work government refuses to do. This Violence Prevention Month, the call is clear: acknowledge IPV as an epidemic and take the urgent action needed to save lives.
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For further information, contact Stephanie Curran, Media and Communications Officer, NDP Caucus at 330-0328 (o), or stephaniecurran@gov.nl.ca
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