Is the World Ready to Commit to the United Nation's SDGs On Gender Equality? Almas Jiwani Asks Bureaucrats, Government Officials, High Commissioners and International Trade Representatives

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Dec. 10, 2015) -

Editors Note: There are three photos associated with this press release.

Ms. Almas Jiwani addressed an audience of Canadian bureaucrats, government officials & international trade representatives and high commissioners at the Trade Facilitation Office Canada's (TFO Canada) seminar on the subject of gender equality.

Almas Jiwani, President emeritus of UN Women Canada NC, CEO of Almas Jiwani Foundation and expert in UN gender equality initiatives, spoke of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals to advance gender equality around the world by 2030. The focal point of the address was women and the economy.

"The potential for social change is too great to pass up, as are economic competitiveness and growth," Almas Jiwani said of reducing gender inequality. "So how to get there? How do we bridge the gender gap? How do we make gender inequality nothing more than a part of history?"

In closing her speech, Almas Jiwani stressed how decisive steps also need to be made in the political and economic spheres. "For women to be valued, we need bold companies. Bold policy makers. Bold governments. Achieving gender equity is critical to the world's sustainable development. Yes, gender inequalities continue to run far and wide around the world but change is possible. Prime Minister Trudeau just proved that to us," said Almas Jiwani.

"TFO Canada recognizes the important role women play in economic development and strives to develop programs and services that are practical, results-oriented, and ultimately sustainable at local and regional levels. A key strategy has been to work with local partners and trainers. Given that the World Trade Organization reports that women reinvest 90% of their earnings in their family and community, this further illustrates the relevance of having a solid gender strategy as part of our programming," says executive director Steve Tipman.

About Almas Jiwani Foundation

Almas Jiwani Foundation is to empower women and girls through focused projects that will directly address Equality, Education, Entrepreneurship and Energy rights and impact lives in positive & meaningful ways.

AJF Programs will be aimed at empowering girls and women by expanding access to education, increasing economic opportunity, and providing or improving access to the energy at the most local levels possible. The improved access to energy is expected to yield a co-benefit of better use of technology and modern communications systems, including smart phones and the internet.

Our goal is to elevate millions of women out of poverty and in radical, insufferable situations- and with them, their families and entire communities. These technologies, which we in the west take for granted, could impact these communities the most, and help them harness their power for economic gain.

More about TFO Canada:

TFO Canada confronts the challenge of global poverty by promoting sustainable economic development through export information, advice and contact. TFO Canada facilitates access to the Canadian marketplace and shares Canadian trade expertise for the benefit of smaller exporters in developing countries. Founded in 1980, TFO Canada is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation.

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