Province-wide Advisory Committee urges Major B.C. Parties to Ratify the International Decade of People of African Descent as part of New Electoral Platform
MEDIA CONTACT
Dominique Jacobs
Communications & Resource Development Coordinator
Support Network for Indigenous Women and Women of Color
203-2722 Fifth Street
Victoria BC V8T 4B2
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
PROVINCE-WIDE ADVISORY COMMITTEE URGES MAJOR B.C. PARTIES TO RATIFY INTERNATIONAL DECADE OF PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT AS PART OF NEW ELECTORAL PLATFORM
The Support Network for Indigenous Women and Women of Color (SNIWWOC) and The African Art & Cultural Community Contributor Society (AACCCS) are calling for the NDP, Greens and Liberals to publicly address anti-black racism and the lack of recognition for the International Decade of People of African Descent (IDPAD) in the province.
Victoria, B.C., Canada. September 22, 2020: . In the wake of Horgan’s call for a snap election, The Support Network for Indigenous Women and Women of Color (SNIWWOC) challenges the B.C. NDP, Greens and Liberals to a town hall to address anti-black racism and the lack of provincial response in the recognition of the International Decade of People of African Descent (IDPAD). We are asking that the three major B.C. parties engage publicly and meaningfully address their plans to correct the province-wide short-fallings to black communities.
SNIWWOC penned a letter which was to be delivered to Premier John Horgan’s office yesterday, Monday September 21st, alongside a letter from Sonia Furstenau’s Greens. The letter, written on behalf of a province-wide Black advisory committee and echoed by Furstenau, explains that the committee continues to work tirelessly to ensure the ratification of the IDPAD in British Columbia and urges the (now ex-)Premier to recognize and support the International Decade for People of African Descent (IDPAD) which started in 2015.
The letter states: “Black people have lived in Canada since the beginning of transatlantic settlement, yet continue to be underrepresented and underserved. As this historic IDPAD calls for equity and change, we are asking legislators to enact this for all British Columbians.” In recognizing and enacting the IDPAD, the B.C. government would acknowledge that people of African descent represent a distinct group whose human rights must be promoted and protected.
The importance and timeliness of this acknowledgement is that we are now more than halfway through the IDPAD. And if formally recognized, it will result in concrete actions to drastically improve the lives of Black British Columbians who have also been disproportionately impacted by Covid-19.
According to the federal government, which enacted the IDPAD in January 2018, it is an “opportunity to highlight and celebrate the important contributions people of African descent have made to Canadian society. It also provides a framework for recognition, justice, and the creation of strategies to fight racism, discrimination, and the ongoing inequalities that Canadians of African descent face.” We've met with ministers and representatives from various levels of government and nothing tangible has occurred under the NDP administration.
We urge party leaders to include meaningful and public ways to recognize the IDPAD in their electoral platforms. This should include concrete steps to:
Raise awareness in the general public about the heritage and culture of people of African descent and around the International Decade of People of African Descent’s broader goals and actions in British Columbia.
Deliver anti-racism strategy, including anti-black racism training to prevent systematic racism in provincial policies, programs and services.
Create a paid advisory committee of people of African descent to work with and advise staff between 2021-2024 on the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent and commitment to People of African descent.
Develop a capacity building grant program for Black-led organizations, black business owners, and institutions supporting and working with people of African descent.
Track and demonstrate progress with respect to provincial hiring practices at all levels to reflect the diversity of British Columbian communities.
Within only 32 days, all parties must now prepare to navigate an election campaign unlike any held previously in B.C. history. This is a huge opportunity for party leaders to make a positive impact on Black communities by leading their platform with meaningful ways to publicly acknowledge and support the UN International Decade of People of African Descent (IDPAD). We will be contacting each party leader with details about the upcoming town hall.
SNIWWOC’s letter to Premier John Horgan: https://www.sniwwoc.ca/blog/2020/9/22/letter-to-former-ndp-premier-horgan-to-urge-recognition-of-the-international-decade-of-people-of-african-descent
SNIWWOC’s Racialized community COVID-19 Impact statement: https://www.sniwwoc.ca/blog/2020/8/24/covid-19-impact-on-people-of-different-racial-amp-ethnic-backgrounds