Almas Jiwani Foundation Calls for an End to Discrimination Against Black Women in True Honor of Black History Month

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Feb. 1, 2016) - Almas Jiwani, President and CEO of the Almas Jiwani Foundation, demands that national, provincial, and local government officials address the lack of equality black women experience in Canada.

"Non-white women in Canada earn about 55 per cent of what white men earn," Almas Jiwani said. "February is Black History Month and a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the contribution of Black people in Canada. However, we must also take this opportunity to highlight the need for decisive measures to improve equality in our society. The government needs to introduce measures which will support racialized communities achieve real equality in Canada."

Black History Month is not meant to be something we point to and complacently say, "we're doing our part to remember both the good and the ugly." Black History Month should serve as a reminder for what can be achieved by overcoming adversity, by removing the physical and emotional barriers to freedom, by accepting one another, and by moving forward together.

Racialized Canadians are three times more likely to live in poverty than other Canadians. This shows that discrimination still exists. We call on our government to review the situation and take steps to ensure this persistent inequality does not continue.

The Almas Jiwani Foundation's raison d'être:

The Almas Jiwani Foundation (AJF) promotes community governance(1) as the leverage for empowering people, particularly girls, women and communities in vulnerable environments. With 21^st century technology and communication, AJF aims at fostering partnerships that strengthen equal opportunity for girls and women in Education, Entrepreneurship, and Entertainment; and that contribute as well to the sustainability and the security of Energy, Food, Water and Shelter. AJF would like to partner with you for alleviating poverty and creating a healthy World. A World where social justice and human rights prevail, where girls, boys, women and men have equal opportunities and, where the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals become reality.