Fighting against racism is a cross-cutting priority of CCUNESCO’s 2021-2026 Strategic Plan.
One of our commitments in this area is to strengthen and grow the Coalition of Inclusive Municipalities. With more than 100 members, the Coalition brings together municipalities that want to commit publicly to fighting racism and eliminating all forms of discrimination. Participating municipalities undertake initiatives and share information with a view to building open and inclusive societies. CCUNESCO develops resources to support the Coalition members such as the Small and Rural Municipalities toolkit which provides practical information and resources for small and rural municipalities to support and strengthen their work in fighting racism and discrimination in all its forms, while also emphasizing the importance and benefits of embracing inclusionary practices.
CCUNESCO will continue its work to raise the profile of the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024) and collaborate with governmental and civil society partners beyond this period to support the recognition, development and human rights of Black Canadians. CCUNESCO activities in this area include:
- Engagement in UNESCO’s Routes of Enslaved Peoples project;
- Coordination of delegations to the Permanent Forum of People of African Descent;
- Participation in the biannual National Black Canadians Summit.
Collaborating with partners on initiatives to decolonize knowledge, open science, and educate Canadians about the contributions of Indigenous, Black and other racialized communities to Canada’s history are essential aspects of CCUNESCO’s anti-racism work. In April 2023, CCUNESCO co-organized the gathering “Higher Education in Canada: Decoding, Deconstructing, and Decolonizing our Future”.