Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning. Earlier this week, I officially launched Family Violence Awareness Week in the Great Hall of this building. The focus this year is the prevention of violence against women and children with disabilities.
Members of this House know the impact violence has against all members of our society. Its corrosive effects eat away at our communities and families. We must work together to eliminate violence, and we must be especially vigilant in our efforts to eliminate violence against the most vulnerable members of our society.
Mr. Speaker, people with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to violence and exploitation. Their right to a safe and secure environment must be a goal we all strive to protect. Those who prey on vulnerable individuals must clearly understand the people of the Northwest Territories and that they will not tolerate such behaviour.
In all our communities we must hear the message loud and clear: Violence is not acceptable; it cannot be used as a tool of control, nor as a way of taking out frustrations. We must work towards eliminating violence, and we can only do that through honest and open dialogue and through working together.
Mr. Speaker, this annual campaign is a great example of how community organizations and governments can work in partnership to make a difference.
I'd like to thank the Status of Women Council of the Northwest Territories, which has coordinated this year's Family Violence Awareness Week activities with the help of the Coalition Against Family Violence. This coalition represents a number of community organizations and includes representatives from the Government of the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories response to the NWT Action Plan on Family Violence - A Framework for Action also sets out several examples of how partnerships increase the effectiveness of actions taken to work towards eliminating family violence.
I would like to provide you with an update on some of the actions in the government's framework that are being undertaken in partnership with community agencies and other governments.
Mr. Speaker, the Protection Against Family Violence Act was proclaimed April 1, 2005. The Honourable Brendan Bell will provide a detailed update on the successful implementation of this act.
Several other activities are underway including a joint Federal/Territorial Working Group on Family Violence. The intent of this group is to look at funding practices across the GNWT and federal departments and develop a process to coordinate funding for larger projects intended to reduce family violence.
As well, the GNWT is expecting feedback from 50 stakeholder groups on a series of standardized definitions of family violence terms. Having standardized definitions will allow governments and community agencies to have a single comprehensive set of definitions of family violence terms. This will help to ensure consistency in the development and delivery of programs for those affected by family violence as well as set the baseline for data collection.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, the GNWT will host a workshop with the Coalition Against Family Violence in November 2005. This workshop will look at our progress in implementing the actions set out in the framework for action and how we can better work together.
A full status report updating the public on the progress of all the actions will be available in November.
Mr. Speaker, I want to end today by reminding everyone in every community in the Northwest Territories we must stand firm in our resolve to stop family violence. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause