New Brunswick declares gender-based violence an epidemic
Front-line workers want action that includes increased funding, support, education and prevention
When the province declared gender-based violence an epidemic this month, Sarah Sherman felt both emotional and overjoyed.
Sherman said she was in a relationship where she experienced many forms of gender-based violence. Now, she's the founder of We're Here for You Canada, a not-for profit that supports survivors of sexual violence.
"You're living on egg shells, but you don't see it as violence," she said. "You don't realize that you've been isolated from your friends and family, that you're being monitored going to and from work."
Sherman, in central New Brunswick, represents one of more than 20 organizations that signed an open letter to Premier Susan Holt, asking her government to recognize gender-based violence as an epidemic.
Gender-based violence often stems from wanting "power and control" over a person of another gender, Sherman said. "It can be sexual, it can be physical, it can be coercive, it can be financial."
According to the New Brunswick government, instances of intimate partner violence in the province increased by 39 per cent between 2009 and 2021, which is the highest increase in the country.
In 2021, a total of 3,172 people in New Brunswick reported experiencing intimate partner violence. That year, there were 497 reported cases of intimate partner violence in the province per 100,000 persons, compared to 345 per 100,000 in Canada as a whole.
Intimate partner violence is a subset of the larger category of gender-based violence, and Sherman said when you take that into account, the numbers reach the bar of an epidemic.
"I'm really grateful that it had been brought forward and passed unanimously because it's not a partisan issue, it's not a male or female issue, " Sherman said. "It's a system issue, it's a society issue. And so by naming it an epidemic, we can now put action behind it."
Motion introduced by PC MLA
The motion to recognize gender-violence as an epidemic was introduced by Tammy Scott-Wallace, an Opposition Progressive Conservative MLA, and passed by the legislature.
"It was just a really wonderful day in the legislature on Thursday to see this happen," she said.
Scott-Wallace said declaring gender-based violence as an epidemic speaks to the severity of the situation.
"All people need to know that we're lifting the veil on abuse — we're saying it has to stop," she said. "The numbers are embarrassing, shameful, really.
"It's really not this dirty little secret that we're keeping hidden in our communities, which has been done for so long."
Kristal LeBlanc, executive director of the Beausejour Family Crisis Resource Centre in Shediac, said the motion sends a strong message.
"It was a historic occasion for all survivors who long felt overlooked, who felt like they were suffering in silence," she said.
"I also think it was a strong message sent to frontline providers."
But LeBlanc wants action behind the motion.
"Let's work with the province and let's get some work done, and what that needs to look like is funding, education, prevention and support."
Sherman said that although the government has increased funding, much of it is directed to support.
She would like to see more work done on prevention, which "starts when kids are young."
This year's provincial budget allotted $9.2 million to combating gender-based violence, and $2.1 million for prevention services.
"We have to help the next generation because even though I've lived through this," Sherman said. "And I've been speaking about it for three and a half years, I watch my daughters and their friends, and I watch the intergenerational abuse continue.
"This is a victory and we're very grateful and very happy."
If you are in need of support, Sexual Violence New Brunswick offers a support line seven days a week from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. at 506-454-0437.
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