The Government of Canada remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting the inclusion and respect for diversity in its global efforts as a proven path to fostering peaceful and prosperous societies that respect human rights.
Today, the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion, is attending the second session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. The overarching theme of this year's session is "Realizing the Dream: A United Nations Declaration on the Promotion, Protection and Full Respect of the Human Rights of People of African Descent."
In his remarks at the event, Minister Hussen highlighted that recognizing the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent has served and continues to serve as a catalyst for Canada's development of lasting initiatives that focus on the well-being of Black individuals and communities across Canada. The Government of Canada has committed to ensuring that diverse Black voices have an opportunity to be heard, share their views and be both centred in and central to this work.
Minister Hussen also reaffirmed Canada's unwavering commitment to tackling anti-Black racism and discrimination in all its forms, in part through Canada's Anti-Racism Strategy and through eliminating systemic barriers in Canadian society.
The second session will bring together human rights activists of African descent, member states, United Nations specialized agencies and bodies, national human rights institutions, civil society representatives, and other relevant stakeholders for four days of thematic discussions and other special events.
Recognizing that a decade will not be enough, Canada continues to welcome and actively support the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent as a platform to build on the principles of justice, recognition and development, and to improve the safety, quality of life and livelihoods of people of African descent in Canada and around the world.
