International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
December 15, 2023
The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on 21 March since declared by the United Nations in 1966. In South Africa, the country in which the event took place that gave rise to the observance, the Sharpeville Massacre, the day is commemorated as Human Rights Day, and is a public holiday.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on the day in 2010
In South Africa, the day has been commemorated on 21 March each year as a public holiday called Human Rights Day since 1994,[3] when Nelson Mandela was elected president of a new democratic South Africa.[4] The day is regarded as a day of mourning by some, commemorating 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.[1]
On this day, the government asks that "South Africans... reflect on their rights, to protect their rights and the rights of all people from violation, irrespective of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, whether they are foreign national or not".[4]
Themesedit
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[2]
2015: Learning from tragedies to combat racial discrimination today[2]
2017: Racial profiling and incitement to hatred, including in the context of migration[2]
2018: Promoting tolerance, inclusion, unity and respect for diversity in the context of combating racial discrimination[2]
2019: Mitigating and countering rising nationalist populism and extreme supremacist ideologies[2]
^ abcYussuf, Ahmed (21 March 2023). "From a massacre in apartheid South Africa to 'feel good' multiculturalism: The dark history of Harmony Day". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 14 April 2023.
^ abcdefgh"International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination". United Nations. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
^"Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994". South African Government. 1 January 1995. Retrieved 14 April 2023. PDF
international, elimination, racial, discrimination, observed, annually, march, since, declared, united, nations, 1966, south, africa, country, which, event, took, place, that, gave, rise, observance, sharpeville, massacre, commemorated, human, rights, public, . The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on 21 March since declared by the United Nations in 1966 In South Africa the country in which the event took place that gave rise to the observance the Sharpeville Massacre the day is commemorated as Human Rights Day and is a public holiday UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on the day in 2010 Contents 1 Background 2 Human Rights Day in South Africa 3 Themes 4 See also 5 Footnotes 6 References 7 External linksBackground editOn 21 March 1960 police opened fire at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville South Africa against the pass laws a In the event known as the Sharpeville massacre 69 people were killed and 180 injured 2 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 2 1 Human Rights Day in South Africa editIn South Africa the day has been commemorated on 21 March each year as a public holiday called Human Rights Day since 1994 3 when Nelson Mandela was elected president of a new democratic South Africa 4 The day is regarded as a day of mourning by some commemorating 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 1 On this day the government asks that South Africans reflect on their rights to protect their rights and the rights of all people from violation irrespective of race gender religion sexual orientation whether they are foreign national or not 4 Themes editEvery 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 2 2015 Learning from tragedies to combat racial discrimination today 2 2017 Racial profiling and incitement to hatred including in the context of migration 2 2018 Promoting tolerance inclusion unity and respect for diversity in the context of combating racial discrimination 2 2019 Mitigating and countering rising nationalist populism and extreme supremacist ideologies 2 2020 Recognition justice and development The midterm review of the International Decade for People of African Descent 2 2022 Voices for action against racism 2023 75th anniversary of UDHR an impetus to combat racismSee also editEuropean Action Week Against Racism around 21 March List of minor secular observances MarchFootnotes edit During the apartheid years Black South Africans had to carry a kind of internal passport known as a pass which restricted their freedom of movement and residence in the country 1 References edit a b c Yussuf Ahmed 21 March 2023 From a massacre in apartheid South Africa to feel good multiculturalism The dark history of Harmony Day ABC News Australia Retrieved 14 April 2023 a b c d e f g h International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination United Nations Retrieved 18 December 2019 Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994 South African Government 1 January 1995 Retrieved 14 April 2023 PDF a b Human Rights Day Parliament of the Republic of South Africa External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Racism Official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination amp oldid 1188232488, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
