Nova Scotia launches ‘birds and bees’ videos addressing sexual violence

HALIFAX – Nova Scotia has launched a video campaign on sexual violence that features animated birds and bees discussing consent and other issues at a house party.

The campaign — entitled Sexual Violence with the Birds and the Bees — consists of short 30- to 60-second videos aimed at youth aged 14 to 20.

Community Services Minister Joanne Bernard says the province produced the videos in consultation with young people in order to talk about sexual violence in a way that “makes sense to them.”

The videos are available on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook, and will also be shown in cinemas across the province.

There is also a campaign website at birdsandthebees.ca that includes information on where to get help and how to support friends who have been subjected to sexual violence.

Bernard says the campaign, which is part of the government’s $6 million sexual violence strategy, will cost $300,000.