Today, March 21st, is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The UN first recognized this day six years after the Sharpeville Massacre, in Sharpeville, South Africa on March 21, 1960. Police had opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against the apartheid “pass laws”.
For 2019 the United Nations General Assembly focus is “mitigating and countering rising nationalist populism and extreme supremacist ideologies.” Racist extremist movements that promote populist, nationalism are spreading and must be stopped.
The United Nations General Assembly recent resolution on eliminating racism reiterated that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and have the potential to contribute constructively to the development and well-being of their societies. The resolution also emphasized that any doctrine of racial superiority is scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust, dangerous and must be rejected along with any theories that attempt to determine the existence of separate human races.
Racial and ethnic discrimination occur daily hindering the lives of millions of people around the world. Racism can take various forms — from denying individuals equality to fuelling ethnic hatred that may lead to genocide — all of which can destroy lives and fracture communities. The international community needs to take action to fight racism and xenophobia.
It is up to us to combat racism, xenophobia and related intolerances. Moreover, it is up to us to promote tolerance, inclusion, unity and respect for diversity. Every day we need to stand up against racial prejudice and intolerant attitudes.
Check out the PIPSC Submission to the Government Consultation on Anti-racism https://www.pipsc.ca/news-issues/human-rights-and-diversity/submission-to-government-consultation-on-anti-racism. PIPSC supports identifying and addressing systemic barriers in the public service and calls for action to increase representation and inclusion of racialized workers.
Be a part of the conversation #StandUp4HumanRights #FightRacism #JoinTogether.