Please show your solidarity by signing this petition calling on the BC government to immediately recognize this historic moment for people of African Descent: http://chng.it/Z9bKZVxJ

Join us for a virtual town hall meeting featuring community leaders and activists as we push for the BC Government to recognize the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024).

This online event will be held live, Monday, June 22 at 7pm PST on Zoom.

This event is hosted by the African Arts & Cultural Society. There will be an opportunity to ask questions during the town hall, but you’re welcome to email questions in advance to vaccsociety@gmail.com.

Join the meeting on Zoom at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83969078062

Meeting ID: 839 6907 8062
Dial in: +1 778 907 2071

On watch on Facebook Live at: https://www.facebook.com/aacccsociety/

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We acknowledge that this event is hosted from the traditional territory of the Lekwungen people, currently and specifically the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations.

BACKGROUND

The United Nations has declared 2015-2024 as the International Decade for People of African Descent. Its theme is “recognition, justice and development”.

The UN states “Studies and findings by international and national bodies demonstrate that people of African descent still have limited access to quality education, health services, housing and social security.”

On January 30 2018, Prime Minister Trudeau announced that Canada will officially recognize the Decade. We are concerned that so far the British Columbia government has no specific plans to do so.

We urge the BC Government to give the UN Decade the recognition it deserves and come up with specific plans including a national plan of action to combat discrimination against persons of African descent in consultation with communities of African descent.