|
Stand Up - Speak Out Leadership
Stand Up, Speak Out - Participants
Muslim Women Promoting Diversity & Educating Communities Stand Up, Speak Out - Presentations The Federation of Muslim Women is pleased to announce the launch of a new project entitled “Stand Up Speak Out Leadership”. FMW has received funding from the Government of Canada through the Multiculturalism Program, Department of Canadian Heritage to co-ordinate and implement this new initiative, which is geared specifically towards Muslim women. In this two year project, FMW will establish an advisory committee, facilitate learning seminars and create materials to educate the public about Islam specifically through the school system as well as network with mainstream organizations. This is a regional project. FMW will also solicit Muslim women and recruit participants to be trained to attend public forums so that we can have a strong presence in our Canadian society. The absence of knowledge in the West and the world about the ethics, cultures, and multitude of diversity within the Muslim world has led to the inevitable stereotyping of Muslim women through media images of oppression, a lack of education and free will. A woman covered from head to toe is the consistent image imprinted in the minds of the general Western public and conscious head covering or veiling can result in potential public victimization as international events unfold in the media. This can legitimize ethnic profiling; a legalized form of racism and women can also be the victims of varying degrees of hate crimes. The main objectives of FMW and this project are to network with organizations seeking to educate people about Islam and Muslims, to consult with agencies regarding the concerns and special needs of Muslim women, to assist Muslim communities in providing services to support Muslim women, to assist immigrant and refugee women adjust to Canadian society, to network with organizations providing humanitarian relief to Muslims and to publish and distribute literature about Muslim women and Islam. |