N.L.'s gender-based violence task force expects report to be shared this fall

The co-chair of Newfoundland and Labrador's task force to end gender-based violence says the group is working to determine its first steps following their first in-person meeting last week, but a report on their findings can be expected in the fall.

N.L.'s gender-based violence task force expects report to be shared this fall Task force still navigating first steps, complex issues through three meetings, chair says The co-chair of Newfoundland and Labrador's task force to end gender-based violence says the group is working to determine its first steps following their first in-person meeting last week, but a report on their findings can be expected in the fall. Stacey Hoffe told CBC News this week that the task force has met three times since May and is working to navigate their priorities.

It's a task, she said, that's easier said than done. "Gender-based violence, it's a vast and pervasive issue. And it really intersects with a lot of different social issues.

So it's no easy feat, so lots of really important discussions are happening," Hoffe said. Hoffe is also the executive director of the Mokami Status of Women Council in Happy Valley-Goose Bay and chair of the Provincial Advisory Network for the Status of Women (PANSOW). Women and Gender Equality Minister Lela Evans announced the creation of the 12-member task force in May when the Newfoundland and Labrador government declared gender-based violence an epidemic.

Evans said the task force will provide recommendations to government with the goal of moving toward sustained gender-based violence prevention as opposed to crisis response. N.L. declares gender-based violence an epidemic Nunatsiavut advocates hope declaration of gender-based violence as an epidemic can remove stigma Hoffe said much of the early work has centred around finding the voices who aren't at the table, along with discussion of systemic issues like racism, sexism and more. Housing has also been a key discussion point, she added, saying it plays a key role in helping people access safety.

Additionally, Hoffe said the Department of Women and Gender Equality has compiled past data from previous reports and work from PANSOW. She said data pulled from those reports have contained some 1,000 recommendations. "What we're doing is trying to determine what voices may not be included in those reports, especially if those voices aren't included at the table.

And task force members are reaching out to our networks and the relationships we have where we could find those voices," Hoffe said. "Once we have that comprehensive list, then we will continue to dig in." Hoffe said the task force's first report is due to government in the fall.

When asked how the task force can ensure their recommendations become action or policy, Hoffe said she believes the make-up of the task force could prove to be the difference. "[We have] folks who have lived experience, folks who have been advocates in the gender-based violence sector for many, many years, and have relationships with folks working in the sector and relationships with survivors as well," she said. "I hope that that's the difference.

It's advocates who have been asking to be involved, and have a lot of recommendations at the tip of their fingers. And we'll ensure that that's addressed and meaningfully actioned at this table." Download our free CBC News app to sign up for push alerts for CBC Newfoundland and Labrador.

Sign up for our daily headlines newsletter here. Click here to visit our landing page. With files from Leigh Anne Power and CBC Newfoundland Morning