International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

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International opposition to
apartheid in South Africa
Campaigns
Instruments and legislation
Organisations
Conferences
  • 1964 Conference for Economic Sanctions
  • 1978 World Conference against Racism
UN Security Council Resolutions
Other aspects
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Ms. Navanethem Pillay, High Commissioner for Human Rights, on the Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2010. The theme for this year was “Disqualify Racism”. Photo by Eric Bridiers, 22 March 2010.

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on 21 March. On that day, in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid pass laws. Proclaiming the day in 1966, the United Nations General Assembly called on the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.[1]

Human Rights Day in South Africa[]

In South Africa, Human Rights Day is a public holiday celebrated on 21 March each year. The day commemorates the lives of those who died to fight for democracy and equal human rights for all in South Africa during apartheid, an institutionally racist system built upon racial discrimination. The Sharpeville Massacre on 21 March 1960 is the particular reference day for this public holiday.

Themes[]

Every year the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is under one specific theme:

  • 2010: Disqualify Racism
  • 2014: The Role of Leaders in Combatting Racism and Racial Discrimination[1]
  • 2015: Learning from tragedies to combat racial discrimination today[1]
  • 2017: Racial profiling and incitement to hatred, including in the context of migration[1]
  • 2018: Promoting tolerance, inclusion, unity and respect for diversity in the context of combating racial discrimination[1]
  • 2019: Mitigating and countering rising nationalist populism and extreme supremacist ideologies[1]
  • 2020: Recognition, justice and development: The midterm review of the International Decade for People of African Descent[1]

See also[]

  • European Action Week Against Racism, around 21 March
  • List of commemorative days § March, also on 21 March

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination". United Nations. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
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