TORONTO, June 1, 2007 - The Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF) is pleased to endorse and participate in the Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination (CMARD) and congratulates the municipalities which are officially signing on to the Declaration today in Calgary.
"The CRRF became very interested the CMARD initiative because it fits very much into our mandate and mission to build a national framework for the fight against racism in the Canadian society," notes, Dr. Ayman Al-Yassini, the Foundation's executive director. "The fact that this initiative also responds to the Program of Action from the Durban World Conference Against Racism adds another key reason for supporting it."
The Coalition of Municipalities Against Racism and Discrimination is also part of the International Movement initiated under UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and which has resulted in similar coalitions around the world. It recognizes that cities have a very important role to play in the combating racism and racial discrimination.
"We sincerely hope that the municipalities signing on today, and those who will join later, will live up to the Declaration in a very assertive way. That is the only way that serious progress will be made towards the elimination of racism and racial discrimination," Yassini added.