In 2005, the provincial action plan "A Better World for Women - Moving Forward 2005-2010" was announced. The potential to expand sexual assault awareness and service delivery across the Province was a central component of this action plan.
The Provincial Strategy on Sexual Assault Services is the first step in increasing awareness and establishing services across NB. More...
The vision of the provincial strategy is to recognize and utilize the expertise of established service providers, supporters and survivors in creating a comprehensive network of individuals and organizations involved with survivor response and the prevention of sexual assault.
Through this network, information, best practices, tools, resources and support mechanisms could be shared. Key components of this vision are collaboration, resource sharing, survivor-centered solutions and community-based approach.
Goals of Provincial Approach
- Enhance ability of communities to design, support and coordinate services for survivors of sexual assault
- Promote initiatives aimed at changing attitudes and beliefs that foster misconceptions about sexual assault
- Develop recommendations on policy changes, protocol development and training initiatives to respond to sexual assault
We are trying to change attitudes and behaviours, dispel the myths and open a dialogue. In order to do this we need to empower everyone. We need people to talk. More...
With sexual assault, we are dealing with entrenched attitudes that are difficult to change. In the case of sexual assault, we are all victims.
Sexual assault makes victims of us all. If 39% of Canadian women (or 2 out of 5) have been sexually assaulted since the age of sixteen and affects 1 in 2 female and 1 in 3 male children it can be assumed that each and every member of a community will be affected at some point in their life.
By talking about the issue of sexual assault we can dispel the myths and misconceptions that people have. We keep the dialogue open and honest and make it easier for victims to step forward. Finally, the issue becomes something that is okay to speak of; its okay to seek help. The more we talk about it, the more the blame shifts from the victim to the perpetrator and we as a community become less victimized.
Alternatively, by not talking about it we keep allowing it to happen.
For this reason, the theme of the campaign is "Sexual Assault Makes Victims of Us All". And, the subsequent call to action - "Let's Talk About It" is a necessary first step.
The campaign was designed by Bristol - a leading communications and marketing firm with offices throughout Atlantic Canada - during its annual FreeThink event. FreeThink is a 24-hour work-a-thon the company holds once a year to help out charities that could not otherwise afford to benefit from their expertise in the fields of communications, marketing and online. Campaign materials include TV and radio commercials, posters, bookmarks, billboards and transit shelter ads. View them here.
Let's Talk About It - Female
Let's Talk About It - Male
Video One (English)
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Video Two (English)
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