VANCOUVER – A local group of indigenous and business professionals have come together to work on the introduction of United Nations Women to key Canadian stakeholders.

The UN Women Advisory Committee of Vancouver will be hosting Madame Lakshmi Puri, UN Women’s Deputy Executive Director and Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations along with Mr. Ravi Karakara, Senior Advisor on Strategic Partnerships and Advocacy.

Grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the UN Charter, UN Women, among other issues, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; empowerment of women; and achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

UN Women will be in Vancouver to meet and connect with Canadian stakeholders and indigenous leaders of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh people in a 3-day event of roundtable discussions, workshops and galas from October 12 to 14.

Discussions will center on how UN Women can help expand support to Canadian Women and Youth, sharing their resources, and connecting with pre-established Canadian organizations.

Vancouver’s UN Women Advisory Committee Head Kerry Gibson stated “With the introduction of a more socially conscious government, we as collective community leaders seek to build the neglected social infrastructure to address the gaps in gender equality and to build and expand platforms supporting Canadian Women and Youth. The resources and experience of UN WOMEN can help us achieve a collective success, empowering and streamlining existing structures and integrating new ones."

Left to Right: Debra Sparrow, Jennifer Funaro, Raymond Greenwood, Sarah McCarthy, Rita Bellano, Gurjinder K Bhurji, Pargat Singh Bhurji, Kerry M. Gibson, Alana Martens, Cleta Brown, Rosemary Mallory, Sonia Andhi, Anna Kornerup, Angelica Mirza  (Not Shown: Andrea Reimer).

UN Women Advisory Committee, Vancouver

Kerry M. Gibson, Canadian Liaison and Planet 5050 Champion to UN Women and CEO of EcoCentury Technologies, has formed a high level Advisory Board to successfully guide the introduction of the United Nations Women to Canadian key stakeholders. Political Leaders, Social Advocacy Leaders, and Corporate Supporters have come together to progress this expansion of capacity supporting Canadian Women and Youth. For more information on the local UN Women Advisory Committee, contact:  Kerry Gibson Tel: +1.778.996.2669 or Email: kgibson@ecocentury.ca.

UN Women

UN Women is the UN organization dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide.

For more information, visit www.unwomen.org.