International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is an international holiday dedicated to the fight against discrimination. All people should be equal, and society should direct all its efforts to eliminate discrimination based on race, nationality, religion, and other factors. Eliminating discrimination is an important step toward social cohesion and reducing the number of wars to a minimum. The holiday is celebrated every year on March 21.

History

The history of the holiday begins in 1966 when it was established by the UN General Assembly. The date of the celebration (March 21) commemorates a terrible event that took place in 1960. At that time, there was a peaceful demonstration of Africans in the South African city of Sharpeville against forced passportization in South Africa. The security forces were ordered to disperse the rally. As a result of the radical measures, 69 Africans were killed.

The creation of the holiday aims to eradicate discrimination in any form. If this is not done, then the economic and social development of society will seriously slow down. All people should have equal rights and freedoms, and discrimination takes that away from them. It is necessary to build a society in which everyone can feel comfortable.

Interesting Facts

• Racism is one of the most common forms of discrimination. Throughout human history, it was mainly black people who were subjected to it, often being slaves for a long time. Many black movements, such as the Black Press, have helped to remedy the situation by restoring legal rights and freedoms to black people.
• Compared to the 19th century, the level of discrimination has decreased by more than 80%, but individual cases still persist in society.

How to Celebrate

Learn more about the various forms of discrimination. Organize anti-discrimination lectures in educational institutions or discuss the topic with family and friends.

Share the holiday on social media. Ask other users if they have experienced discrimination in their lives.

When is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in 2025?

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed on March 21 each year.

Observations