Hon. Janice Sherry, Minister of Community Services, Seniors and Labour and Minister responsible for the Status of Women, announced today that copies of a new local book, Beyond Silence: Voices of Childhood Sexual Abuse, will be made available at library sites across the province.
Beyond Silence is a collection of writings, poems and images by fourteen Island women who write about the abuse they lived with as children, the profound effect it has had on their lives, and how their wisdom can empower others to join in the effort to stop childhood sexual abuse.
The Province of Prince Edward Island, through the Interministerial Women’s Secretariat, has purchased 30 copies of Beyond Silence so that Islanders across the province can have access to this publication.
“I am pleased that we are able to provide increased access to this book to Islanders,” said Minister Sherry. “The book includes the inspiring stories of 14 brave Island women who have survived sexual abuse. I commend these women for their courage to share their stories in an effort to prevent childhood sexual abuse from happening to others.”
Today, between noon and 1 p.m., a book launch will be held at the Confederation Centre Library to celebrate the accessibility of this publication. The event will be hosted by a community group called SAGE, which is a local grassroots volunteer organization who is committed to educating and empowering communities to prevent child sexual abuse.
Members of SAGE will read passages from the book, as well as speak to the process of writing the book, prevention through education, and partnerships in the community.
“We are thrilled that our book will be accessible to all Islanders through our libraries,” said Kele Redmond, representative from SAGE. “It will be exciting to see how our communities will respond and take initiative in our ongoing education and empowerment to prevent child sexual abuse.”
For more information, please contact Michelle Harris-Genge, Director, Interministerial Women's Secretariat at (902) 368-5557.