FORUM: "Everyone on the Side of Racial Justice and Equality" International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2026. Racist behavior involves prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone based on their race or ethnicity, often stemming from notions of superiority. It includes overt acts like slurs, violence, and harassment, alongside subtle actions such as stereotyping, microaggressions, and systemic exclusion, which devalue individuals based on skin color or culture. It's time to rethink about the real and lasting impacts of racism, and our shared responsibility to stand against discrimination in all its forms and give an answer to the thematic discussions on What is racism related OCD? - People with obsessive-compulsive disorder can develop unwanted thoughts, images, or urges dealing with race, or fears of being a racist or being perceived as racist by others. These obsessions lead people to experience intense distress and uncertainty about what these thoughts mean about them. Racism OCD can involve fears of having an offensive thought about someone of another race, of doing or saying something racist without being aware of it, or of fear of being perceived racist. These obsessions often lead to anxiety, guilt, and shame. OCD tends to attack a person’s core values and identity; these types of obsessions are particularly distressing to someone who cares a lot about fighting against racism, treating people fairly, and being respectful of others. OCD often convinces people that their thoughts are tied to their true beliefs and self-worth, causing doubt and distress. Individuals suffering with OCD also engage in various compulsions to relieve the distress caused by obsessions or to prevent a feared outcome. However, compulsions provide only temporary relief, and in the long term fuel obsessions, increase anxiety, and become burdensome. What are the common obsessions of the cases of Racism OCD? - The Fear of losing control and using a racial slur or making an offensive comment; The Obsessive concerns about not being able to tell if one’s own behavior might be racist; The Worries about accidentally or purposefully causing emotional harm to someone of another race; The Doubts about whether or not something one did or said was racist and some Concerns that one may only be pretending not to be a hateful person. What are the common triggers - People with fear of being racist may be triggered by situations involving interactions with a minority friends or coworkers. Hearing about other people’s experiences with racism can lead to questions about one’s own behavior and intentions. Even habitual daily interactions can lead to doubts about whether or not one’s actions were racist. For example, passing a black woman on the street could trigger intrusive thoughts about racial slurs or questions like “Am I racist because I didn’t smile at the person I passed on the street? Could my eye contact have been seen as intrusive or racially motivated? What about my lack of eye contact?” Reading about systemic or institutionalized racism, talks about diversity and inclusion, and seeing racial protests in the news could all be potential triggers. How can I tell if it’s racism OCD, and not racism? - Everyone likely has implicit racial biases about groups of people that exist at an unconscious level. While these biases impact the way that we interact with people, they are not the same thing as racism. Racism involves conscious prejudice and discrimination against members of a particular racial group, or a lack of concern about inadvertent prejudice. Individuals who choose to participate in racist actions will falsely deny, reflexively defend, or be prideful about their actions. Someone who is dealing with Racist OCD, on the other hand, will worry extensively about whether or not they are racist, may reflexively blame themselves, or be intensely concerned about inadvertent offense or prejudice. OCD causes repetitive thoughts and doubts in your mind and attempts to convince you that you are morally wrong for having these thoughts and doubts. While it is important for people to examine their implicit racial biases, it is unproductive to experience unrelenting fear and anxiety about whether or not you are racist there is a key difference. The Common compulsions performed mentally or physically by people with OCD fear of being racist include: Asking loved ones for reassurance that one isn’t racist; Repetitively conducting research about racism or how to be anti-racist; Mentally reviewing past actions or conversations to make sure they aren’t racist; Researching news stories about racially motivated crimes; Speculating and comparing one’s actions with other people’s actions; Being overly gentle, speaking more, or interacting more with members of a racial group in an attempt to convince oneself that they aren’t racist Avoiding members of a racial group to avoid intrusive thoughts and doubts, or in an attempt to avoid causing them offense or discomfort. How to treat fear of being racist? - Racism OCD can be debilitating for people who struggle with it, but it is highly treatable. Doing exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy with an ERP trained therapist can bring relief from the unending doubt and anxiety that OCD causes. Individuals in need of treatment for Racism OCD can face several obstacles. It is important to be able to work with a therapist who understands obsessive-compulsive disorder, is trained to treat it using ERP, and is comfortable talking about race. ERP involves facing obsessive fears with exposures that will allow for the experience of anxiety without doing a compulsion to relieve it. Compulsions reinforce the OCD cycle. By choosing not to engage in compulsions, individuals are able to learn to respond to triggers in a new way and will likely experience a gradual reduction of anxiety over time. An therapist will be able to assist you with working through challenging feelings and barriers to treatment. They can assist with developing exposures that feel manageable and help to establish a new and healthier response to obsessive thoughts. To participate to the forum follow the conversation with the hashtags: #Racism, #Racialbehaviour, #21March, #DíaContraElRacismo, #RacialJustice, #Discrimination, #Racialequality, #Racialattitude, #fightracism.
On March 23rd, 2026 at the UNHQ, the Commemorative meeting on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2026 will be held. The theme of this year’s meeting is “Mobilizing political will: 60 years of commemorating
the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination”.The item discussed are Elimination of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. Watch the livestream!
LIVESTREAM: Commemorative event from the UNHQ in New York.On March 21st. a webinar will be held to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2026 ; Register to participate!
Letter from the President of the General Assembly on the convening of Commemorative Meeting of the General Assembly on International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2026.
Statement by the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2026; March 21st.
On this International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, we honour those who fought – and continue fighting – for racial justice, equality, and freedom.
Their resistance has shown the incredible power of solidarity to change our world for the better.
From the adoption of global frameworks to combat racism, to national anti-discrimination laws, and the acknowledgement of historical injustices – we have made progress on the long road towards a more just society.
But we are approaching a checkpoint – a moment when this progress is being questioned, delayed, and even reversed.
This checkpoint was set up by those who thrive on division and polarization. It is reinforced by discriminatory structures and sustained by the corrosive logic of dehumanization.
Because while we may no longer segregate people on buses, too often, we still do so in our thinking and our ways of life.
Race remains the most common ground for discrimination globally, causing real pain to millions of people.
Across the world, people of African and Asian descent, Jews, Muslims, Indigenous Peoples, and other ethnic, religious, and cultural minorities continue to be denied their basic rights.
Hate speech is spreading unchecked, including against migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
Biased media coverage shapes the geography of our attention. Some countries and regions – some lives – are deemed more worthy of our interest than others.
Those who propagate hatred have clearly succeeded in sowing distrust and chaos in our societies, and this may be good news for them.
But I also have some bad news for these people: humanity’s quest for justice and dignity is unshakeable. It is intrinsic to who we are, and it will always prevail over delusional supremacist ideas.
Today, we owe all those who gave their lives for equality and human rights nothing less than an all-out effort to safeguard this progress.
And this starts with political will.
The will to fight racial discrimination through laws, empathy, and accountability.
The will to work together with civil society and affected communities to find lasting solutions.
The will to regulate business activities and make online spaces safer.
The will to reform outdated political and economic systems still based on colonialism and exploitation.
The will to match racial justice with climate justice for communities who contributed least to climate change but are paying the heaviest price.
Racism is not only unjust and unlawful; it is morally and intellectually bankrupt.
By questioning our assumptions, verifying facts, and learning about history and human rights, we can see through the tactics of distraction and recognize our shared humanity.
Together, let’s confront, call out, and act against racism, every time.
Statement of the Secretary-General of the United Nations on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2026; March 21st.
The ancient poison of racism is alive and kicking in every community, society, country and region of the world.
It lives on in the legacies of colonialism, enslavement and oppression, which drive so many of the problems we face today — from economic, social and political inequality, to discriminatory policies and practices, to outright conflicts. And it spreads via new digital tools and technologies that inundate us with hate speech, perpetuating lies and harmful stereotypes that often spill over into real-world violence and abuse.
The antidote is unity and action. All governments, institutions, businesses and communities must work together to address racism and safeguard the dignity, justice, equality and human rights that belong to every person.
This means universal ratification and full implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
And it means living up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, now marking its 25th year, which includes concrete steps to end racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
Today, and every day, we must take a stand. We must fight for the dignity, rights and belonging of every person on earth, and erase the stain of racism from our world.
The ancient poison of racism is alive and kicking in every community, society, country and region of the world.
It lives on in the legacies of colonialism, enslavement and oppression, which drive so many of the problems we face today — from economic, social and political inequality, to discriminatory policies and practices, to outright conflicts. And it spreads via new digital tools and technologies that inundate us with hate speech, perpetuating lies and harmful stereotypes that often spill over into real-world violence and abuse.
The antidote is unity and action. All governments, institutions, businesses and communities must work together to address racism and safeguard the dignity, justice, equality and human rights that belong to every person.
This means universal ratification and full implementation of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
And it means living up to the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, now marking its 25th year, which includes concrete steps to end racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
Today, and every day, we must take a stand. We must fight for the dignity, rights and belonging of every person on earth, and erase the stain of racism from our world.
António Guterres.
Excellency,
I have the honour to inform you that, in accordance with General Assembly resolution
80/193, I will convene a commemorative meeting of the General Assembly to mark
the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on Monday, 23 March 2026,
at 10 a.m. in the General Assembly Hall.
The theme of this year’s meeting is “Mobilizing political will: 60 years of commemorating
the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination”.
Kindly note that, in keeping with General Assembly decision 80/504 of 12 September 2025
regarding the format of such commemorative meetings, regional groups are invited to deliver
statements during this meeting. In line with my letter of 6 January 2026, group statements should
be limited to five minutes.
Further details will be circulated in due course. For any additional information, your office
may contact Ms. Karolina Janiak, Senior Advisor on Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs
in my Office, by e-mail at Karolina.Janiak@un.org.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurance of my highest consideration.
Annalena Baerbock, President of the General Assembly.
On this International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, we honour those who fought – and continue fighting – for racial justice, equality, and freedom.
Their resistance has shown the incredible power of solidarity to change our world for the better.
From the adoption of global frameworks to combat racism, to national anti-discrimination laws, and the acknowledgement of historical injustices – we have made progress on the long road towards a more just society.
But we are approaching a checkpoint – a moment when this progress is being questioned, delayed, and even reversed.
This checkpoint was set up by those who thrive on division and polarization. It is reinforced by discriminatory structures and sustained by the corrosive logic of dehumanization.
Because while we may no longer segregate people on buses, too often, we still do so in our thinking and our ways of life.
Race remains the most common ground for discrimination globally, causing real pain to millions of people.
Across the world, people of African and Asian descent, Jews, Muslims, Indigenous Peoples, and other ethnic, religious, and cultural minorities continue to be denied their basic rights.
Hate speech is spreading unchecked, including against migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
Biased media coverage shapes the geography of our attention. Some countries and regions – some lives – are deemed more worthy of our interest than others.
Those who propagate hatred have clearly succeeded in sowing distrust and chaos in our societies, and this may be good news for them.
But I also have some bad news for these people: humanity’s quest for justice and dignity is unshakeable. It is intrinsic to who we are, and it will always prevail over delusional supremacist ideas.
Today, we owe all those who gave their lives for equality and human rights nothing less than an all-out effort to safeguard this progress.
And this starts with political will.
The will to fight racial discrimination through laws, empathy, and accountability.
The will to work together with civil society and affected communities to find lasting solutions.
The will to regulate business activities and make online spaces safer.
The will to reform outdated political and economic systems still based on colonialism and exploitation.
The will to match racial justice with climate justice for communities who contributed least to climate change but are paying the heaviest price.
Racism is not only unjust and unlawful; it is morally and intellectually bankrupt.
By questioning our assumptions, verifying facts, and learning about history and human rights, we can see through the tactics of distraction and recognize our shared humanity.
Together, let’s confront, call out, and act against racism, every time.
Volker Türk.
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