Niagara Region has joined the Coalition of Inclusive Municipalities, becoming one of 82 other municipalities across Canada that are working to end racism, discrimination, and exclusion.
Niagara’s Regional Chair Jim Bradley, and the 12 mayors that represent Niagara communities, signed a declaration Sept. 18. The moment marked Niagara’s official entry into the coalition.
“Those of us who hold elected positions must strive to hold ourselves to a higher standard, not only recognizing not only privilege but also strengthening our resolve to learn, listen and take action to build an inclusive and welcoming Niagara,” said Bradley. “This declaration is our shared commitment to work toward policies that eradicate racism and discrimination, and promote human rights and diversity,”
The Coalition of Inclusive Municipatlies is an effort created by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), which is an organization that seeks to build peace through international cooperation.
The goal of the coalition is to create a network of municipalities that seek to enact more programs and policies to eliminate all forms of discrimination in their area. The idea is that by communities working together, members can learn from each other. They can be part of mass effort to build inclusive societies for all.
As a member of the Coalition of Inclusive Municipatlies, Niagara Region will focus on three metrics:
- Improve practices that promote social inclusion
- Establish new policies to eradicate racism and discrimination
- Promote human rights and diversity
To learn more about the coalition’s mission to build a barrier-free society visit: Coalition of Inclusive Municipalites.