The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is celebrated on March 21 of each year. On March 21 1960, the police opened fire and killed 69 people in a peaceful demonstration against the apartheid pass law in Sharpeville, South Africa. In proclaiming this in 1966, the General Assembly urged the international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.
In 1979, the General Assembly approved a program of activities to be carried out during the second half of the Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination. On that occasion, the General Assembly decided that every year, in all states, starting on March 21, a week of solidarity be organized with the peoples who fight against racism and racial discrimination.
“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.
The United Nations General Assembly reiterates that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and have the ability to contribute constructively to the development and well-being of society.
