Released on May 13, 2019
Today, the Government of Saskatchewan released its response to the Domestic Violence Death Review (DVDR) Report.Interpersonal Violence and Abuse: Response to the Domestic Violence Death Review Report highlights government-wide initiatives working to prevent and end interpersonal violence and abuse in Saskatchewan.
The response paper is the result of collaboration between several government ministries, led by the Status of Women Office and the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General, and involving numerous community and government partners.
“Each of us has a role to play in ending interpersonal violence and abuse in Saskatchewan,” Minister Responsible for the Status of Women Office Tina Beaudry-Mellor said. “We all must challenge attitudes and behaviours that permit or condone violence. We must support survivors and create a culture of safety for everyone.”
The Government of Saskatchewan remains committed to addressing interpersonal violence and abuse. In 2019-20, more than $20 million will be provided for a range of prevention and intervention services and responses for children, survivors and offenders to reduce the impact of interpersonal, domestic and sexual violence. Of this, the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General is providing $11.9 million to programs and resources dedicated to violence and abuse prevention and intervention, and to providing support to survivors. This includes $427,000 to maintain and expand upon commitments made in 2018 in the initial response to the DVDR Report.
Today, the Government of Saskatchewan introduced and passed amendments to The Saskatchewan Employment Act through all stages to allow survivors of interpersonal violence to receive five days of paid leave from their places of employment. They can also access five days of unpaid leave.
“This paper represents government’s continued commitment to supporting survivors of interpersonal violence and abuse,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Don Morgan said. “As a province, we must do everything we can to protect and create safe and healthy communities.”
The DVDR Report was created by a panel of experts and released in May 2018, with the intention of addressing Saskatchewan’s high rate of domestic violence.
To view the response paper online, please visit http://publications.saskatchewan.ca/#/products/100831.
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For more information, contact:
David Horth
Advanced Education
Regina
Phone: 306-787-0926
Email: david.horth@gov.sk.ca
Jennifer Graham
Justice
Regina
Phone: 306-787-8621
Email: jennifer.graham@gov.sk.ca