International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination - 21 March

Tags: Important Days

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed every year on 21 March.

An Overview of the News

• The theme of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in 2024 is "A Decade of Recognition, Justice and Development: Implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent."

• The 2024 theme aligns with the International Decade for People of African Descent (2015–2024), which recognizes the need to promote and protect the human rights of persons of African descent globally.

• Approximately 200 million people of African descent live in the Americas, with millions more living in other regions around the world.

Historical Background:

• The ritual originates from the tragic events of March 21, 1960, when police in Sharpeville, South Africa, shot 69 persons during a peaceful protest against the apartheid "pass laws".

• In 1979, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a program to combat racism and racial discrimination, instituting a week of solidarity with those fighting against racism, starting on March 21 every year.

International Legal Framework:

• The International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination serves as a global mechanism to combat racism, subject to near-universal ratification. However, additional efforts are necessary to eradicate racial discrimination around the world.