Today – March 21 – is the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. On this day, in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid "pass laws". Proclaiming the Day in 1966, the United Nations General Assembly called on the international community to redouble efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination. Canada was one of the first countries to support this UN declaration. The Department of Canadian Heritage has been observing this day nationally since 1989.

This year’s theme is “Fighting Everyday Racism”. Click here to read the UN’s primary objectives for 2006.

You too can affect change on this issue – with colleagues, friends and family, at work and even on a systemic level. Perhaps you are already challenging racism on a daily basis, perhaps you want to start. In honour of March 21, 2006, send in your commitments for Fighting Everyday Racism.

For additional information see:

http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/racial/

http://www.ohchr.org/english/events/racism/

http://www.pch.gc.ca/march-21-mars/why-pourquoi/index_e.cfm

UN Objectives of the Day

For the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in 2006, the primary objectives of marking the day are to:

Encourage interaction and cross-fertilization of cultures and civilizations through education and awareness-raising, with a view to promoting mutual respect, diversity and tolerance;
Increase the level of public awareness and understanding of everyday racist attitudes or behaviours which, even if not openly aggressive or violent, do humiliate and hurt, convey disregard, disrespect and marginality and can be provocative. They also affect the quality of life of people, their attitude towards themselves and the attitudes of those around them;
Foster the importance of dialogue and mutual understanding among people as being essential for wiping out everyday racism, for promoting mutual understanding, tolerance and peace;
Encourage the full and active participation of all stakeholders in the elaboration, planning and implementation of anti-discrimination activities with a view to generating a sense of involvement and ownership in the anti-discrimination struggle in order to contribute to progressive change within their own communities and the world at large.

From http://www.ohchr.org/english/events/racism/