Almas Jiwani, President of UN Women National Committee Canada, to Address Canada's largest Model United Nations Conference in Montreal

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Oct. 25, 2013) - Almas Jiwani, President of UN Women National Committee Canada, will be the keynote speaker at the Secondary Schools' United Nations Symposium (SSUNS), Canada's largest Model United Nations conference, on Nov. 7. More than 1,000 high school students from across Canada, North America and abroad are expected to attend the annual event, organized this year by McGill students.

The conference theme is "The Future is Yours," and Ms. Jiwani's address will focus attention on the need for women to achieve economic empowerment to attain a brighter future.

"Statistics indicate that women are more likely than men to be poor and at risk of hunger because of the systematic discrimination they face in education, health care, employment and control of assets. Poverty implications are widespread for women, leaving many without even basic rights such as access to clean drinking water, sanitation, medical care and decent employment. Being poor can also mean that they have little protection from violence and have no role, absolutely no role, in decision making," said Ms. Jiwani.

Almas Jiwani has been the President of United Nations Women National Committee Canada for more than four years. She is an internationally renowned speaker and a global voice for gender equality, tackling important issues facing women in Canada and around the world.

The students attending the SSUNS conference all have an avid interest in international relations and diplomacy and aspire to pursue careers in these fields. Ms. Jiwani's keynote address will provide them with an opportunity to hear first-hand experiences about United Nations activities on issues that they have studied. Ms. Jiwani's new initiatives include a youth conference to engage and empower young Canadians in actions that will advance the gender equality mission.

"I hope my keynote address at the conference will be sure to do exactly that and inspire a younger generation to become active in the global community. Only if they do that will the future be theirs." Stated Ms Jiwani.

ABOUT UN Women National Committee Canada

UN Women National Committee Canada is an independent non-governmental organization that supports the mission of UN Women through its public awareness initiatives about UN Women and global women's issues, and fundraising efforts to support UN Women programmes worldwide.

About SSUNS

Since its initiation, SSUNS has annually embodied different themes that reflect the geopolitical context of international relations. Building on last year's theme, Renewing the Past, this year's theme, The Future is Yours, seeks to bring the delegates to the forefront of pressing issues impacting nations around the world.

More information is available at www.ssuns.org