International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Date in the current year: March 21, 2024
March 21 is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. This observance was established by the United Nations General Assembly to call on international community to redouble its efforts to eliminate racial discrimination around the world.The observance of this international day is closely connected to the events of March 21, 1960, when the police of Sharpeville, South Africa, opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against the apartheid pass laws. Pass laws would significantly limit the movement of African populace and migrant labor.
The UN General Assembly established International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in 1966 to commemorate the events in Sharpeville. Kofi Annan, the 7th Secretary-General of the UN, considered that much success in the fight against racial discrimination depends on ordinary citizens and their will to speak out against intolerance and discriminatory acts in their daily lives.
South Africa observes Human Rights Day annually on March 21. This public holiday commemorates the lives of the people who fought for democracy and human rights during the Apartheid regime.
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- international day for the elimination of racial discrimination, un international day, sharpeville massacre