OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(Marketwired – May 21, 2013) – UN Women National Committee Canada urges Canadians to help fight global poverty and take part at one of ten World Partnership Walk events held on May 26th, June 2nd and June 9th in cities across Canada. The World Partnership Walk is Canada’s largest annual event dedicated to raising funds and awareness to fight global poverty.

“Supporting the World Partnership Walk is in line with our core UN Women priority which is to advance women’s economic security and rights,” said Almas Jiwani, President, UN Women National Committee Canada. “Women bear a disproportionate burden of the world’s poverty. Across the world, over sixteen million women and children are impacted by the brunt of poverty. They are more likely than men to be poor because of the discrimination they face in education, health care and employment. Gender discrimination undermines efforts towards poverty eradication, thwarts progress and suppresses viable contributions of half the world’s population to improve global economic conditions. Join us at the World Partnership Walk. Together, we can take action, together we can mobilize partners for change, together we can end poverty and suffering.”

Since its start almost 30 years ago, the Walk has raised over $75 million for international development programs and initiatives supported by Aga Khan Foundation Canada. One hundred per cent of funds raised by the World Partnership Walk go directly to fund international development projects. Organized by volunteers in ten cities across Canada, nearly 40,000 Canadians came together to raise more than $7 million in 2012.

Walks will be held in Regina, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria, London, Ottawa, Calgary, Edmonton, Kitchener- Waterloo and Montreal. The Montreal Walk will be held on Sunday, June 2 at Parc Jean-Drapeau and will include a special performance by singer/songwriter and two-time Juno award nominee Belinda Brady.