On March 21, in celebration of the UN International Day for the Elimination
of Racial Discrimination, the United Nations Association in Canada (UNA-Canada)
will be launching at the Ottawa Public Library a new anti-racism manual
created by youth from across Canada.
A panel, including a number of the manual's youth authors, will speak
on anti-racism and youth and will respond to questions from the floor.
They will discuss "The KIT: a manual by youth to combat racism
through education" and the youth-driven process which led to its
realization. Members of the youth team outside of the National Capital
Region will be holding simultaneous launches across the country on March
21.
"2001 has been an exceptional year for both racism and anti-racism,"
says Geoffrey Pearson, National President of UNA-Canada. "A UN
world conference produced a strong document outlining progressive actions
for governments, NGOs, and youth to eliminate racism. At the same time,
the conference and its parallel events were plagued by allegations of
racism. Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, intolerance
has been on the rise in the West. At this historical moment, youth engagement
in fighting racism is needed more than ever."
The KIT is the product of 12 months of youth organizing and strategizing
on how young people in Canada can combat racism through an educational
approach. UNA-Canada's national project, the Youth Forums Against Racism,
brought over a hundred youth together through regional and national
forums to discuss youth perspectives, experiences, and strategies for
combating racism.
This March 21 event is open to policy-makers, media, educators, community
leaders, NGOs, anti-racism activists, and any other interested parties.
The Youth Forums Against Racism project (www.unac.org/yfar) is supported
by the Multiculturalism Program of the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Date and Time: March 21, 2002 at 11:00 a.m.
Location: Ottawa Public Library - Auditorium (lower floor)
120 Metcalfe Street (corner of Metcalfe & Laurier)
For further information, contact:
Christine Parsons
christine@unac.org
613-232-5751 x240
Ian Foucher
ian@unac.org
613-232-5751 x249
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