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Good Afternoon, I would like to welcome all of you to the launch of Family Violence Awareness Week.  I am particularly happy to see a number of young people attending this afternoon.

Sadly, once again this week we are reminded that violence against women is a very real problem in our communities. The Northwest Territories has the second highest rate of family violence in Canada and we know that many incidents are never reported.  So it is not a surprise to you when I say we have some work to do.

Family Violence Awareness Week is an opportunity for us to pay special attention to this issue and to work together on solutions. This year’s theme is Stand with Us/Stop Family Violence. It reminds us that we all have a part to play.

Teaching youth about healthy relationships is a focus for this year.  Ending family violence starts with changing attitudes and beliefs about it.  Who better to help us but our young people – whose inquiring minds are not yet constricted by preconceived ideas, shame and embarrassment?

Youth are our future.  We can take a big step toward ending family violence by raising them to know the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships.

What stops one young person from being a victim or an abuser?  Knowledge and awareness of what family violence is, and that a choice can be made to not be a victim or an abuser.

Healthy relationships need to be discussed at home, in the classroom and with friends.

We know that individuals who are violent toward their families often have used the same behavior in their dating relationships.  Dating violence or jealousy during dating is not a sign of love – it is a warning that needs to be heeded.

It is up to us to take and keep this subject out of the closets inside our homes, and our youth can help us.

We need our youth to challenge the attitude and behaviours that condone family violence. We need you to stand up and say family violence is everyone’s business – it isn’t a private family matter.  We need you to treat and be treated with dignity and respect.  We need promote the fact that violence is deliberate and people need to be accountable for their actions.

Let’s make it our goal, to get rid of one of the most serious and deadly issues of our communities.

Thank you.