/EINPresswire.com/ -- OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 11/24/15 -- Editors Note: There is one photo associated with this press release.

Canadians are standing up to violence against women and girls through Status of Women Canada's #EndViolence campaign, which urges both men and women to join the movement to end gender violence by taking an online pledge at women.gc.ca.

Almas Jiwani Foundation took the pledge and asked Canadians to do the same during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence.

Statistics show that women and girls continue to be more vulnerable to violence than men. Aboriginal women are even more at risk, being three times more likely than non-Aboriginal women to report experiencing violence.

Canadians are encouraged to visit the Status of Women Canada website to take the pledge. By taking the pledge, Canadians can show that they care about making Canada safer for all women and girls - no matter who they are or where they live.

Quick Facts

- Statistics show that women and girls continue to be more vulnerable than men to all forms of violence. This is particularly true for Aboriginal women who are three times more likely than non-Aboriginal women to report experiencing violence.

- Aboriginal women are over-represented among Canada's murdered women. The RCMP reports that nearly 1,200 Aboriginal women and girls were murdered or went missing between 1980 and 2012.

- The Government of Canada has committed to launching an inquiry into missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in Canada.

- The Government of Canada is urging Canadians to join the movement to end violence against women and girls by visiting women.gc.ca to take the pledge and to ask their friends and family to do the same.

- The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence began on November 25, with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and will conclude with International Human Rights Day on December 10. The 16 Days also include Canada's National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women on December 6.

Quotes

"Violence is a reality for far too many Canadian women. Aboriginal women, in particular, are three times more likely to report experiencing violence than non-Aboriginal women. This is unacceptable. Living a life free of violence is a basic human right and one that all Canadian women and girls should expect. Our government is addressing this urgent issue with measures to prevent violence, not just punish it."

The Honourable Patricia A. Hajdu, P.C., M.P.

Minister of Status of Women

"The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence campaign is an important reminder of the many opportunities we have to combat violence against women and gender inequality. 1 in 3 women globally will experience sexual or physical violence in her lifetime. In Canada, 1 woman is killed by her domestic partner every six days. This is unacceptable and preventable. We need inclusive, sustainable and effective solutions to end gender-based violence. To do this, men must raise their voices in equality, not their hands. Investment in gender equality will result in eradicating violence against women on an international scale. I encourage all Canadians to come together for collective action. Together we can make a difference locally and globally. It's time to break the cycle of violence!"

Almas Jiwani

President, Almas Jiwani Foundation

--  Information about Status of Women Canada at women.gc.ca

About Almas Jiwani Foundation

Almas Jiwani Foundation is to empower women and girls through focused projects that will directly address gender equality, education and energy rights and impact their lives in positive, meaningful ways.

Through Education, empowerment, entrepreneurship and equality, the AJF will take the following steps to build a strong civil societies across the globe:

1.  We will advocate for a true and impactful empowerment of women
2.  Invest and deliver technological advances to girls and women of deprived
    communities and regions to facilitate a much needed quality education
    for them
3.  Educate and improve access to energy resources in new ways, specifically
    renewable power for more sustainable lifestyles.

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.

"We have embarked upon this journey to make an actionable impact on the lives of those women and girls who need it most" Jiwani said. "It is our belief that through access to energy and education we can empower these girls and women to become entrepreneurs, improving both their own future, and that of their communities."

To view the photo associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/alma1124.jpg

Contacts:
Status of Women Canada
Nanci-Jean Waugh
Director General, Communications and Public Affairs
819-420-6810

Almas Jiwani Foundation
Jason William Dupuis
Communications
613-234-8252 Ext 103
info@almasjiwanifoundation.org
www.almasjiwanifoundation.org