Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW) Launches Multi-Year Project to Address Employment Barriers for Canadian Muslim Women

Written by Canadian Council of Muslim Women

Published in News

[T]he Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW) is proud to announce a multi-year project, “Addressing Barriers to Employment for Muslim Women.” The project is funded by Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE).

This 35-month project will address barriers to employment for Muslim women, by focusing on developing tools and strategies to increase Muslim women’s recruitment, retention and advancement in non-traditional and/or growing economic sectors in Canada.

CCMW will apply a Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) lens to the most recent census data in order to address gender gaps in labour-market recovery, as well as other factors of discrimination, that impact the economic participation of Canadian Muslim women.

"CCMW is honoured to receive a multi-year grant from WAGE to better understand employment barriers that Canadian Muslim women face and to develop key strategies and tools in order to address these barriers and inform employment-related policies and practices; thereby improving employment access and equity,” says Nuzhat Jafri, Executive Director of CCMW.

“We look forward to working with key partners and stakeholders in the employment sector, as well as diverse Canadian Muslim women to make this happen," adds Jafri.

As a 40-year-old national, feminist organization aimed at advancing the rights of Canadian Muslim women and girls, CCMW continues to advocate for Muslim women in all aspects of their lives, including access to employment and career advancement.

About CCMW

The Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW) was founded in 1982 when Muslim women across Canada attended the founding conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Led by the late founder of CCMW, Dr. Lila Fahlman, these women sought to mobilize their passion for social justice and faith to enrich their communities and work towards the common good of Canadian society.

CCMW is dedicated to the empowerment, equality and equity of all Muslim women in Canada. Its mission is to affirm the identities of Canadian Muslim women and promote their lived experiences through community engagement, public policy, stakeholder engagement and amplified awareness of the social injustices that Muslim women and girls endure in Canada, while advocating for their diverse needs and equipping local CCMW chapters with the necessary resources to maximize national efforts and mobilize local communities to join the movement. Visit: www.ccmw.com for more information.

About WAGE Canada

Since 2015, WAGE funding to support women’s and equity-seeking organizations has increased five-fold. More than 645 organizations across Canada have received over $320 million in funding to improve women’s economic security and prosperity, address gender-based violence, advance women in leadership and support those who need it most.

Investing in women’s economic participation means their families, and their communities can prosper. The Government of Canada will continue to collaborate with women’s movements, organizations, and experts and to facilitate women's economic participation while further promoting intersectional strategies to advance gender equality.

Since 2010, WAGE has provided a total of $2,363,992 in funding to CCMW.

Budget 2022 committed $539.3 million over five years, starting in 2022-23, “to support provinces and territories in their efforts to implement the forthcoming National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence” and we look forward to working together. Visit https://women-gender-equality.canada.ca for more information.

Canadian Council of Muslim Women

The story of the Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW) begins in 1982 when a group of dynamic and devoted Muslim women from across the country congregated in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Led by the late founder of CCMW, Dr. Lila Fahlman, these women sought to mobilize their passion for social justice and faith in order to enrich their communities and work towards the common good of Canadian society.

This inaugural meeting led to the establishment of CCMW, a not-for-profit organization that works to provide equity, equality and empowerment for all Canadian Muslim women. For the past 30 years, its proud and accomplished roster of members have achieved and continue to achieve great milestones for Muslim women and Canada’s multicultural landscape. As a highly diverse organization, CCMW is firmly committed to the overarching vision of improving the status of Muslim women to remain true to their Islamic heritage and Canadian identity.