Say no to hate and work to fight against racism by participating in the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
This important day acts as a reminder that the work toward equality throughout the world is a battle that takes place all throughout the year.
Get connected with this day and make a difference in the world for today and for the future!
How to Celebrate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Each person on the planet can take advantage of opportunities to work toward ending the ignorance and hate that lies behind racism.
Consider some ideas for connecting with different people to celebrating the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination:
Read the UN Statement about Race
One of the best ways to get involved and show support for this day is to learn more and get educated about some of the issues connected with racism.
The United Nations adopted its Declaration on Race and Racial Prejudice, reaffirming that all humans are “born equal in dignity and rights and all form an integral part of humanity”. In honor of the day, look up this declaration, read it and share it with others.
Connect with Others Against Racism
An excellent way to celebrate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination might be to get connected with others in the community who are already doing this work.
Those who are of majority backgrounds should be particularly sensitive to listening and learning from those who have been discriminated against. Tearing down walls through care, education and an attempt at understanding can be a great way to continue the fight against racism.
History of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
For centuries the cultural and racial barriers between humans have been the cause of difficult relationships, negative treatment and even the outright abuse of people of different races and nationalities.
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is here to raise awareness about and work to reduce the instances of racial inequality in locations around the world.
Several different events led up to the founding of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1966.
The date of this annual event was set to remember and honor the shooting that occurred in Sharpville, South Africa on March 21, 1960, where 69 people were killed at a “peaceful” demonstration against apartheid.
Each year, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination brings with it a fresh theme that encourages people to think deeply and consider how to end racism. Recent themes for this day have included:
- Voices for Action Against Racism (2022)
- Say No to Hate (2021)
- Recognition, Justice and Development (2020)
- Promoting Tolerance, Inclusion, Unity and Respect for Diversity (2017)
Though the system of apartheid in South Africa has been dismantled, the issue of racism still continues in many places throughout the world.
The hope for this anti-racism day is that efforts toward education and awareness will open minds and change behavior both now and with the coming generations. Get involved with this important day to make a difference in every small corner of the planet.
Facts About International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
Economic Costs of Workplace Racism
Racial discrimination in the workplace carries a measurable economic cost: a World Economic Forum analysis estimated that U.S. businesses lost about $172 billion between 2016 and 2021 due to higher staff turnover linked to unfair treatment of minority employees, while the U.K. economy was found to forgo roughly $29 billion (24 billion pounds), or about 1.3 percent of GDP, because of barriers to participation and career progression for workers from Black and other minority backgrounds.
Pass Laws as the Backbone of Apartheid Control
South Africa’s apartheid system relied heavily on “pass laws,” which required Black Africans to carry internal passports that controlled where they could live and work; historians estimate that millions of Black South Africans were arrested under these laws, which became one of the state’s main instruments for detaining and harassing political opponents in the 1950s and 1960s.
Sharpeville as a Turning Point in Anti‑Apartheid Strategy
The Sharpeville massacre marked a crucial turning point in South Africa’s liberation struggle: after police fired more than 1,300 rounds into a crowd of protesters, killing 69 and wounding over 180 people, the government declared a state of emergency, banned the African National Congress and Pan Africanist Congress, and prompted both movements to abandon exclusive reliance on nonviolence and form armed wings such as Umkhonto we Sizwe and Poqo.
International Condemnation and South Africa’s Isolation
Global outrage after the Sharpeville killings accelerated South Africa’s diplomatic and economic isolation; the British Anti‑Apartheid Movement, for example, shifted from limited consumer boycotts to advocating comprehensive United Nations economic sanctions, helping to establish the long campaign of international pressure that would later contribute to apartheid’s demise.
ICERD as a Cornerstone of International Human Rights Law
Adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1965, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD) is one of the core international human rights treaties, requiring states to outlaw racial discrimination, condemn propaganda based on racial superiority, and report regularly to a specialized committee that monitors their progress.
UNESCO’s Declaration on Race and Racial Prejudice
UNESCO’s Declaration on Race and Racial Prejudice, adopted in 1978, built on decades of scientific work debunking “race” as a biological hierarchy, affirming that all human beings belong to a single species and that any theory claiming the superiority or inferiority of racial groups has no scientific foundation and violates human rights.
Sharpeville’s Later Role in Democratic South Africa
Decades after the massacre, democratic South Africa symbolically reclaimed Sharpeville: in 1996 President Nelson Mandela chose the township as the place to sign the country’s new constitution, linking the memory of those killed under apartheid to the legal foundation of an inclusive, rights‑based state.
