International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2023; March 21st.

FORUM: "75th anniversary of the UDHR - an impetus to combat racism." International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2023.

The 2023 theme of the International Day focuses on the urgency of combatting racism and racial discrimination, 75 years after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).21 March is also an opportunity to focus attention on the International Decade for the People of African Descent, who constitute some of the world’s poorest and most marginalized groups. Five years after the Decade’s launch in 2015, the United Nations General Assembly have conducted a critical mid-point review, to assess what countries have accomplished and to identify actions to be taken to improve the human rights situation of Afro-descendants. Studies and findings by international and national bodies demonstrate that people of African descent still have limited access to quality education, health services, housing and social security. To observe the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, We invite people to demonstrate how 'harmony' hides structural and systemic racism. Follow the conversation with the hashtags:#AfricanDescent, #21March, #FightRacism, #IDERD.

EVENTS: Join the panel discussions to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2023.

Commemorative Event
21 March 2023, 11:00-12:30 pm EDT
General Assembly Hall, New York

An event to mark the International Day, featuring remarks by Secretary-General António Guterres, Mr. Csaba Kőrösi, President of the General Assembly, Ms. Ilze Brand Kehris, Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Ms. Verene Albertha Sheperd, Chairperson of Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, and more. Watch live on UN WebTV.

Debate on the urgency of combatting racism and racial discrimination 75 years after the adoption of the UDHR

Wednesday, 29 March 2023, 4 - 6 pm CET
Palais des Nations, Geneva

The panel discussion will gather speakers, who are known for their active role in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and who are from diverse backgrounds. They will share their experience, expertise and recommendations on how to address some of the most pressing challenges and obstacles. Watch live on UN WebTV.

2023 UN Human Rights Prize

Nominations are now open for the 2023 UN Human Rights Prize. The prize, which is given out every five years, recognizes individuals or organizations for outstanding achievements in the field of human rights. Nominations can be submitted until 15 April 2023. The award ceremony will take place at UN Headquarters in New York in December 2023.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED!

- Advance equality and anti-discrimination.

 Get involved in the development of more advanced racial awareness

- mobilize actions against all forms and manifestations of racial discrimination and injustice.
- Support individual and organisational conversations about the importance of keeping the focus of IDERD
- Engage in proactive, open discussions about racism demonstrates a commitment to tackling racism when it occurs and preventing it in the future
- Provide the space to strategise for change.

CAMPAIGN: Against the alarming rise of xenophobia, racism and intolerance, the UN Human Rights Office has launched its #FightRacism campaign to foster a global culture of tolerance, equality and anti-discrimination.

WEBINARS: Global Forum against Racism and Discrimination.UNESCO

FAQs:

How 'harmony' hides structural and systemic racism?

How does love help societies advance the rights of people of AfricanDescent?

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2022, March 21st.

FORUM: “Voices for action against racism.” International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2022.

The 2022 edition draw the inspiration of the High Commissioner’s report on racial justice on the Agenda Towards Transformative Change for Racial Justice and Equality: “LISTEN UP: Ensure that people of African descent and those who stand up against racism are protected and heard, and their concerns are acted on”.

Statement by Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights ar the commemorative meeting on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2022.

Distinguished President,
Excellencies,

I am honoured to join you today to celebrate the voices of the people who stand up against racism – millions of people around the world who have decided to stand up for our fundamental, and universal, equality and rights.

Despite considerable efforts – and some progress – millions of Africans and people of African descent; Asians and people of Asian descent; indigenous peoples; national, ethnic and linguistic minorities; religious communities; and migrants continue to be confronted by racism, racial discrimination, inequality and exclusion. Racism still permeates social structures and institutions in every region of the world.

The impact of racism on people’s human rights is far-reaching. From people seeking refuge from conflict – as we saw recently on the borders of Ukraine – to children attending school; people in need of health-care; job-seekers and many others – my Office has observed multiple manifestations of racism in every aspect of people’s lives.

Digital tools often enhance these profoundly negative phenomena. For instance, algorithms embedded in internet searches often reinforce negative racial stereotypes and biases. Facial recognition – which is often used for surveillance purposes – can be a source of discrimination, and may reinforce discriminatory practices against minority communities especially by law enforcement.
The banning of certain books, especially books about racial identity, from school curricula and school libraries also constitutes an assault against the right to education and efforts to recognise and combat past legacies of harm.

The Four-point Agenda Towards Transformative Change for Racial Justice and Equality that I presented to the Human Rights Council in July 2021 points out that systemic racism requires a systemic response, and can only be dismantled through vigorous and comprehensive reforms.

At the international level, this effort should be guided by the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and several other important instruments, including the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, and the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Ensuring the meaningful and effective participation and representation of all communities at all levels of State institutions and decision-making processes is also fundamental. In this context, I welcome this year’s thematic focus of “Voices for action against racism”. Acknowledging the people who face and stand up against racism – and actively responding to their concerns – is essential to achieving progress.

We must protect the civic space and safety of those who face and stand up against racism. Their rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association in particular must be safeguarded as they often constitute the only way they can impart change.

I also want to emphasise that all politicians and authorities bear a special responsibility to refrain from, prevent and confront incitement to hatred and discrimination.

Serious discussions on the legacies of enslavement and colonialism must continue and lead to reparatory justice. Only when we fully acknowledge the burdens created by past harms will we be able to move forward and achieve real and sustainable change.

Racism is an assault on human dignity, and on everything the United Nations stands for. Today – and every day – I stand in solidarity with all victims of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. I ask all of you to act with me, to end this deep injustice.

Thank you.

Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Other Statements

Statement from Ms Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, 21 March 2022.

EVENTS

Debate in commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2022

Monday, 28 March 2022.
10 a.m. to 12 p.m. CET.
Palais des Nations, UN Geneva

The panel discussion will gather speakers who are known for their active role in the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and who are from diverse backgrounds. They will share their experiences and will advocate in favour of listening to those who face racial discrimination.

CAMPAIGN

We need everyone’s voice for action against racism. Join us to spread the word for racial justice and equality. Show support for #FightRacism by sharing your picture w/ our “I Stand Up To Racism” filter on social media using: #FightRacism, #StandUp4HumanRights

International Day for The Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2021, March 21

 António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (21 March).

Last year, people around the globe took to the streets to protest the vicious global pandemic of racism. They recognized racism for what it is. Dangerous. Abhorrent. Ugly. And everywhere. Racism is a deeply rooted global evil. It transcends generations and contaminates societies. It perpetuates inequality, oppression and marginalization. We see racism in the pervasive discrimination suffered by people of African descent. We see it in the injustices and oppression endured by indigenous peoples and other ethnic minorities. We see it in the repugnant views of white supremacists and other extremist groups. Wherever we see racism, we must condemn it without reservation, without hesitation, without qualification. This year, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination highlights the important role of youth, who have been in the forefront of the fight against racism. Young people’s attitudes and behaviour will dictate the future shape and look of our societies. So, I appeal to young people everywhere, as well as educators and leaders, to teach the world that all people are born equal. Supremacy is an evil lie. Racism kills. On this day, and every day, let us work together to rid the world of the pernicious evil of racism so all may live in a world of peace, dignity and opportunity.

FORUM: Youth standing up against racism. International Day for The Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2021, March 21

“Youth standing up against racism” is the 2021 theme. It engages the public through #FightRacism, which aims to foster a global culture of tolerance, equality and anti-discrimination and calls on each and every one of us to stand up against racial prejudice and intolerant attitudes.

Young people massively showed their support at the 2020 Black Lives Matter marches, which drew millions of demonstrators worldwide. On the streets, groundswells of youth - mostly teens and twenty-somethings - came together to protest against racial injustice. On social media, they mobilized participation, calling on their peers to speak out, and to stand up for the equal rights of all.

Their activism was all the more remarkable in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw restrictions on public gatherings in many countries. As the virus began to spread in early 2020, a parallel pandemic was unleashed - of hatred, violence and fear against certain ethnicities and nationalities. It quickly became clear that stark inequities, sometimes rooted in racism, had subjected minorities to a significantly higher risk of infection and death.

COVID-19 has heavily impacted young people, including those from minority backgrounds. Many are now grappling with an increase in racial discrimination, in addition to severe disruptions to their education; diminished employment prospects; and limited ability to participate in public life, which stymies their individual and social empowerment.